Personal Values

Our personal values and beliefs our instilled in us at a very young age without us having any knowledge until later on in life when we reflect or make a decision and come to the realization that a certain action we committed was due to what our parents taught us, or what we ourselves have learned through our experiences. The book uses Milton Rokeach's definition which states that' "a person's value system is defined as an enduring organization of beliefs concerning preferable modes of conduct or end-states of existence along a continuum of relative importance." That being said all the decisions we make one a day to day basis are an outward representation of our own personal values, or value system. These values are further tested in the work place or when something is asked of them but if carried out that action might conflict with a person's value system. A study done by Julia Underwood, a professor in Azusa University, shows that students values are tested significantly once they graduate and get a job because their drive and ambition for success might result in the sacrifice of their value system, the adoption of maladaptive behavior. She then says that it is such perplexity that should give educator's an incentive to provide their students with an understanding that they must live with the choices they make and hold themselves accountable. Some people compromise their personal values for whatever reason, while others would rather sacrifice their jobs and not their personal values.

Underwood, J., and A. Harrison. "Perfectionist at 20 - Work-life Issues at 40? Personal value systems and Future Implications. " Interbeing 3.1 (2009): 31-36. ABI/INFORM Global, ProQuest. Web. 27 Mar. 2010.