VALUES IN THE LAST 50 YEARS. EUROHUMAN-CENTERED EDUCATION FOR A PEASEFUL WORLD SURVEY OF CHANGED VALUES IN THE LAST 50 YEARS. BULGARIA The survey was carried out in December 2016.

SURVEY OBJECTIVES THE RESPONDENTS Monitoring the changes of the values of the Bulgarians as major outlook objectives, the variation in their significance, and their changes as guiding principles in life. THE RESPONDENTS 50 people 25 men 25 women

Aged up to 30 years old Aged between 31-50 Aged between 51-70 16 20 14 7 women 9 men 12 women 8 men 6 women 8 men

PICTURE OF THE PROFESSIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE INTERVIEWED The economics area The service areas Creative professions Students 14 16 12 8 6 girls 8 boys 8 women 8 men 8 women 4 men 2 women 6 men

QUESTIONNAIRE GRADING SCALE Evaluation of 8 moral values based on 5 degree scale. Choice of 5 moral categories specifying the current lifetime. Choice of 5 moral categories specifying the lifetime 50 years ago. Contemporary societal values fitting the needs of modern times. GRADING SCALE 1 – low 2 – average (little importance) 3 – good (not so important) 4 – important 5 – very important

MORAL VALUES RANKING BASED ON A SCALE OF 5 Harmony and peace in human relationships - 4,63 Love and respect for family values - 4,56 Amicability - 4,54 Protection of the fundamental human virtues - 4,39 Tolerance - 4,23 Generosity - 4,14 Compassion - 4,10 Acceptance and respect of customs imposed by religions or cultures in the immediate surroundings - 3,58

CONCLUSIONS All moral values are rated very high. Harmony in relationships takes the leading place, as it closely pinpoints adherence to a whole set of values. The dynamics of change in the Bulgarian society from collectivism to individualism, the education gaps, and the slow adjustment of stereotypes after the change, afflict the people and make them more sensitive to accepting different traditions and cultures.

COMPARISON OF THE BASIC MORAL VALUES BY AGE AND GENDER

peace in human relationships – 4.63 Moral values Up to 30 years old 31-50 years old 51-70 years old Women Men 1. Harmony and peace in human relationships – 4.63 Important Very Important 2. Acceptance and respect of customs imposed by religions or cultures in the immediate surroundings – 3.58 Average Good 3. Amicability – 4.54 4. Tolerance – 4.23

7. Love and respect for family values – 4.56 Moral values Up to 30 years old 31-50 years old 51-70 years old Women Men 5. Compassion – 4.10 Very Important Good Important 6. Generosity – 4.14 7. Love and respect for family values – 4.56 8. Protection of the fundamental human virtues – 4.39

CONCLUSIONS All respondents assess the fundamental moral values as important, and there is unanimity among the society with regards to the understanding of good and evil. In the group aged from 51 to 70 the values are assessed as very important due to their longer life experience. Higher assessments by the women due to their stronger sentiments and greater tolerance in communicating. Average assessments by the men up to 30 years old and up to 50 years old, and by the women up to 30 years old of category No. 2 which is due to gaps in their upbringing and education.

COMPARISON OF THE FUNDAMENTAL MORAL VALUES BASED ON PROFESSIONAL FULFILLMENT

Qualification Students Service area Area of economics Creative profession Up to age 30 Aged 31-50 Aged 51-70 Aged 31-50 1. Harmony and peace in human relationships – 5.63 4.13 4.81 5.00 4.5 4 4.30 4.75 2. Acceptance and respect of customs imposed by religions or cultures in the immediate surroundings – 3.58 3.19 3.72 3.80 4.12 4.3 3.20 3. Amicability – 4.54 4.25 4.72 4.80 4.11 4.66 3.66 4. Tolerance – 4.23 4.06 4.27 4.40 3.77 5

Qualification Students Service area Area of economics Creative profession Up to age 30 Aged 31-50 Aged 51-70 Aged 31-50 5. Compassion– 4.10 3.81 4.09 4.40 3.77 4.3 4.66 4.50 6. Generosity – 4.14 3.75 4.04 4.60 3.66 4 7. Love and respect for family values – 4.56 4.18 4.81 4.80 4.55 4.75 8. Protection of the fundamental human values – 4.39 4.06 4.44 4.30

CONCLUSIONS Highest are the assessments of the third age group regardless of their professional orientation. Lowest are the assessments of those working in the area of economics aged 31 – 50. /The reasons are due to the great difficulties this age group had to overcome in the process of economic reforms in Bulgaria after 1989./

MORAL CATEGORIES REFERRED TO AS DETERMINING THE SOCIETY TODAY

BY GENDER Women Men Egoism Careerism Indifference Individualism Nihilism Lust for power Individualism Indifference Careerism Nihilism Lust for power

BY AGE Up to 30 years old Aged 31-50 Aged 51-70 Individualism Indifference Egoism Lust for power Pragmatism Careerism Nihilism Nihilism Careerism Individualism Egoism Indifference Patriotism Collectivism Courage Careerism Individualism Egoism Pragmatism Indifference Conformism Valour

Working in the service area BY PROFESSION Students Working in the service area Individualism Indifference Careerism Nihilism Egoism Pragmatism Lust for power Individualism Careerism Egoism Indifference Lust for power

Working in the area of economics Creative professions Working in the area of economics Indifference Egoism Nihilism Individualism Careerism Careerism Conformism Egoism Indifference Freedom

CONCLUSIONS The chosen moral categories suggest an overall negative assessment of the reality. Reasons: unprepared for the change, slow process of change, alteration of the values, etc. Differences in the moral categories, delineating the society by age groups: Aged 31 to 50 – patriotism and collectivism Aged 51 to 70 – valour and collectivism There are no differences in the professional groups except for “lust for power” (for those working the area of economics)

WHAT WERE THE FOREMOST MORAL CATEGORIES 50 YEARS AGO? By Age Up to 30 years old Aged 31 – 50 Aged 51 – 70 Freedom Patriotism Respect Diligence Collectivism Compassion Valour

By profession Students In the service area In the area of economics Creative profession Freedom Collectivism Diligence Valour Respect Patriotism Compassion Love Courage

CONCLUSIONS Both genders equally assess diligence, collectivism, respect, and patriotism. By age groups - the difference of the group up to 30 years old stands out compared to the other two groups. The lack of collectivism and patriotism could be explained by the fact that today they have been replaced by other values referred to as more significant.

WHAT UNIVERSAL VALUES SHOULD BE FORMED TODAY

BY GENDER Women Men Love Patriotism Diligence Respect Freedom Compassion Love Patriotism Diligence Respect Courage Compassion

BY AGE Aged up to 30 Aged 31-50 Aged 51-70 Love Courage Patriotism Diligence Respect Compassion Love Collectivism Compassion Respect Pragmatism Diligence Love Patriotism Compassion Collectivism Respect

BY PROFESSION Students In the service area Love Collectivism Compassion Respect Pragmatism Love Patriotism Diligence Respect Compassion

In the area of economics Creative profession Love Patriotism Diligence Respect Freedom Love Patriotism Diligence Respect Freedom

CONCLUSIONS The three age groups identify as important today similar moral values. Hence, there are no contradictions between the generations concerning the values. In the comparison of the values by profession – patriotism is lacking with the students group, indicating a lack of sufficient education and upbringing in this field in the society, in the family, in school.

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS The results display an impact of change of the values in the Bulgarian society over the last 50 years. All moral values have high and very high assessment. The higher scores in the 51-70 age group could be explained by the life experience gained and the concern and empathy formed throughout. The differences in the assessments between age groups are not as a result of unsolvable contradictions, but due to the age priority changes, the different values referred to as dominating for its time. Each group substantiates its way of thinking and behavior.

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS The assessment differences between women and men are due to the greater emotionality of the women and the greater importance of the moral qualities for them. The changing Bulgarian society displays priority values related to individualism, personal responsibility, and prosperity. Collectivism and patriotism fall in the background when assessing the values importance. The changes in the Bulgarian society have a slow influence on the stereotypes accumulated throughout. They also a reason, alongside with the continued lack of adequate state and media policy, for the average scores in accepting different cultures and traditions.

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