Session 5 Understanding and Discovering Values

Values: definition and functionValues: definition and function Cultural value patternsCultural value patterns Discovering valuesDiscovering values Self-assessmentSelf-assessment Outline

Concept of Values What is good or bad?What is good or bad? What is right or wrong?What is right or wrong? What is fair or unfair?What is fair or unfair? What is important or unimportant?What is important or unimportant? What is desirable or undesirable?What is desirable or undesirable?

Functions of Value Systems Anchor point “ Who are we? ” and “ Who are they? ”“ Who are we? ” and “ Who are they? ” “ What to do and what not to do? ”“ What to do and what not to do? ” “ What makes sense and what doesn ’ t? ”“ What makes sense and what doesn ’ t? ”

Definition and Functions of Cultural Values Values: shared ideas about what is right or wrong, fair or unfair, important or not important Functions of values: Identity meaning function: frame of reference to answer the most fundamental question: who am I in this world?Identity meaning function: frame of reference to answer the most fundamental question: who am I in this world? Explanatory function: implicit understanding of commonly shared valuesExplanatory function: implicit understanding of commonly shared values

Boundary-regulation function: shapes ingroup and outgroup attitudesBoundary-regulation function: shapes ingroup and outgroup attitudes 1. Attitude: learned tendency that influences our behavior 2. Ingroups: share interdependent fate and feel emotionally close 3. Outgroups: feel no emotional ties, experience psychological distance and even competition Adaptational function: people and cultures adapt needs and ways of living to changing habitatsAdaptational function: people and cultures adapt needs and ways of living to changing habitats

Cultural Value Pattern 1 Kluckhohn’s Variations of Value Orientations What is the character of innate human nature?human nature What is the relation of humans to nature?humans to nature What is the temporal (time) focus of human life?temporal (time) focus What is the mode of human activity?human activity What is the mode of human relationships?human relationships

Cultural Value Pattern 2 Hofstede’s 5 Dimensions of Work-related Values Hofstede – Culture’s Consequences, Evaluating the “ Software of the MindHofstede – Culture’s Consequences, Evaluating the “ Software of the Mind

“Hofstede’s (1980,1991) study of IBM employees in 50 nations and three regions has defined the agenda for cross- cultural researchers into values for the past 15 years.” now over 20! Smith & Schwartz, Values, 1997

Four Dimensions Identified Power distancePower distance Individualism- collectivismIndividualism- collectivism Masculinity-femininityMasculinity-femininity Uncertainty avoidanceUncertainty avoidance How a society handles inequality Behaviors towards the group Behavior according to gender The need for structure

Hofstede’s Cultural 5 Dimensions Model Power Distance (PD) How inequalities are viewed and handled in the culture (i.e., strong hierarchical relationships versus egalitarian relationships) Individualism/Collectivism (I-C) How individuals view themselves (e.g., are they an individual striving for individual goals or a part of a collective group, where group harmony is important?) Uncertainty Avoidance (UA) How accepting of uncertainty is the culture Masculinity/Femininity (M-F) Hard and Soft How the culture values competitiveness/assertiveness (i.e., masculine traits) and cooperation/nurturing (i.e., feminine traits). Long Term Orientation (Confucian Dynamism) This dimension accounts for people’s reference time frame (i.e., do the people focus on long term goals or the more immediate, short term goals?)

Cultural Value Pattern 3 Cultural Value Pattern 3 Schwartz’ Structure of Value Relations

Discovering Values How do we know the values people hold? Recommend 2–3 constructive ways to understand your own values or other people’s values mindfully. Proverbs Adages Parables Advertising slogans Movies Novels ….

Discovering Values Read the parableRead the parable Rank the roles in the story on the scale of “approval/acceptable behavior”Rank the roles in the story on the scale of “approval/acceptable behavior” Discuss among group members and reach an agreement on the rankingsDiscuss among group members and reach an agreement on the rankings Show the results and compare them to other groupsShow the results and compare them to other groups

PROVERB 枪打出头鸟 枪打出头鸟 “ The nail that sticks up will get pounded down. ”“ The nail that sticks up will get pounded down. ” “ The longest blade of grass is the first to be cut. ” (E cuador)“ The longest blade of grass is the first to be cut. ” (E cuador)

Examples of American Proverbs Squeaky wheel gets the greaseSqueaky wheel gets the grease (individualism--draw attention to oneself). Early bird gets the wormEarly bird gets the worm(individualism--competitiveness). Cream always rises to the topCream always rises to the top(individualism--competitiveness). Shit HappensShit Happens (weak uncertainty avoidance).

Top 10 American Values You can ’ t argue with success.You can ’ t argue with success. Live and let live.Live and let live. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy/ Are we having fun, yet?All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy/ Are we having fun, yet? Shop till you drop.Shop till you drop. Just do it.Just do it.

Continued You are only young once.You are only young once. Enough is enough.Enough is enough. Rules are made to be broken.Rules are made to be broken. Time is money.Time is money. God helps those who help themselves.God helps those who help themselves.

Top 10 American Values IndividualismIndividualism Competition and winningCompetition and winning Material possessions and comfortMaterial possessions and comfort Work ethicWork ethic Doing and achievingDoing and achieving Cooperation and fair play Youth and attractiveness Progress/change Equality Family

Your turn … Please write down proverbs/sayings which you believe show the Chinese values.Please write down proverbs/sayings which you believe show the Chinese values. Comparison and discussionComparison and discussion

Assess Your Values Two Value instruments to be done!Two Value instruments to be done!

What do You value? Choose the five values that are most important to you.Choose the five values that are most important to you. DiscussionDiscussion

Comparison What do you think about the five ways of finding out your values?What do you think about the five ways of finding out your values? –The parable –Value lists –Proverbs –Value statements sorting –Value contrast

Human Nature Basically evilBasically evil Neutral, mixture of good and evilNeutral, mixture of good and evil Basically goodBasically good

Destiny: Controlling-yielding people-nature value orientation 1. Controlling their environment: control over the natural environment 2. Harmony-with-nature or flowing value solution: emphasize spiritual transformation or enlightenment over material gain 3. Subjugation-to-nature or yielding value solution: nature is beyond the control of individuals (includes fatalism: karma)

Meaning: Doing-being activity value orientation 1. Doing solution: achievement-oriented activities1. Doing solution: achievement-oriented activities 2. Being solution: living with emotional vitality2. Being solution: living with emotional vitality 3. Being-in-becoming modes: spiritual renewal and connection3. Being-in-becoming modes: spiritual renewal and connection

Time: Future-past temporal value orientation 1. Future-oriented time sense: emphasizes planning and setting clear objectives1. Future-oriented time sense: emphasizes planning and setting clear objectives 2. Present-oriented time sense: emphasizes valuing the here-and-now, especially with regard to relationships2. Present-oriented time sense: emphasizes valuing the here-and-now, especially with regard to relationships 3. Past-oriented time sense: honor historic and ancestral ties and elders3. Past-oriented time sense: honor historic and ancestral ties and elders

Social Relations Linear, authoritarian, hierarchyLinear, authoritarian, hierarchy Collateral, collective decisionsCollateral, collective decisions Equality, equal rights, individualismEquality, equal rights, individualism

Space: Privacy-communal spatial value orientation 1. Proxemic studies: regulation of physical and psychological space1. Proxemic studies: regulation of physical and psychological space 2. High-spatial privacy people: need a well- defined personal space2. High-spatial privacy people: need a well- defined personal space 3. Low-spatial privacy people: are used to crowding3. Low-spatial privacy people: are used to crowding