The things that are considered valuable within a society depend on the values that, according to the culture, define people. The value types that exist constitute the foundations of all societies, that is why we invite you to learn about them through this article.
Respect, solidarity, friendship, are some of the values
What are they? and value types
Values are qualities, characteristics or principles that generally define a person, object or action, considered valuable and positive within society.
The great importance of values lies in the fact that starting from them, people configure their way of acting, that is, their behavior, since they are an essential part of each person's beliefs.
Being related to culture, values have a certain historical character with which the different socially acceptable rules have been constituted, as well as the differentiation between good and bad.
Currently, the traditional has had to learn to coexist with the new (the modern), which is why many may have the feeling that traditional values are being displaced, however, what is really happening is that they are being supplemented by new ones.
There are different values, depending on the area, culture and human interpretation we can find types of moral values, ethical, universal, among others.
Universal values
Although they are difficult values to be precise, it can be said that this type of human values are called in this way because they are usually shared by different cultures through different geographical areas.
They function as the basis for human rights, representing aspects as basic as the well-being or the very life of individuals.
They are transmitted thanks to the education that is provided mainly at home, as well as in schools or institutes and the media.
Between the universal value types, we have respect, friendship, courage, responsibility, love, perseverance, justice, tolerance and many more.
Family values
As its name indicates, family values are those that are learned at home and that go from one generation to another, being transmitted by the members of the family (father, mother, grandparents, uncles, etc.).
Because they are the results of the passage of history, they depend on the culture and traditions belonging to the place where each person develops.
To give an example, there are societies where respect for the dead is sacred, dedicating rituals and celebrations to them, while in others, this does not happen.
Personal values
These are the types of human values specific to each person, that is, they are the result of the particular interpretation of each individual. On this basis, the behaviors and actions that each person as an individual being decides to carry out throughout their lives will be established.
Many times they coincide with universal values, but in other circumstances they may not, this would not necessarily translate as a serious fault that is not accepted at a social level.
An example of the above is the use of “honesty”, since although it is certainly a widely promoted value, there are situations in which telling the truth is not always a good option, such as those in which life itself is compromised. .
Moral values
Moral values are those that establish the limits between good and evil, that is, those that define what things are good and what are bad according to the traditions of a community or society.
It must be taken into account that as time progresses and the world changes, the behaviors considered good or bad also do so, therefore they depend on the interpretation of the situations.
For example, in the past it was not tolerated that women had a job instead of staying at home taking care of the home, but this has changed over the years and today there are many women who are great workers or entrepreneurs.
Ethical values
When we talk about ethical values, we refer to those guides of what should be or socially acceptable behaviors within a profession, organization, area of knowledge or power.
The main objective is to achieve the establishment of norms that govern the way in which a person performs within their work area, always seeking the good and common benefits above incorrect personal ambitions.
For example, if we are going to undergo a surgical intervention, we trust that the health team in charge fulfills the "responsibility" of guaranteeing the security measures required by said procedure.
Following on from the above, another example of types of ethical values, would be the use of "honesty" by the doctor to inform us about all the details that occurred during the operation, good or bad.
On the other hand, when a person is accused of a crime he did not commit, he hopes that "justice" will prove his innocence.
Religious values
They are the values derived from religious practices, either independently or those that have the support of large institutions, as is the case of Catholicism that is supported by the Holy See, located in the Vatican.
These types of values are generally reflected in texts considered sacred, transmitted from generation to generation throughout history.
Sometimes they tend to coincide with universal values and seek to reduce human actions that derive from resentment, selfishness or envy, professing respect for others.
These values are put into practice even by those who do not identify with a religion, living by their own spiritual beliefs.
political values
Political values are associated with the way in which each individual perceives how the society in which they live works and what place they occupy in it.
They are the ones that determine the type of ideology towards which a person leans and with which he agrees. It has to do with "freedom", a value for which everyone must be able to have power over their decisions without the intervention of others.
The citizens of a country want their (political) rulers to always speak "sincerely" to them, establishing bonds of trust and empathy that help sustain their mandates.
In addition, it is expected that the treatment received from politicians is based on fairness and commitment on their part, always prioritizing the interests of their fellow citizens before their own.
An integral person is not only formed by values and good traditions, manners are also an essential part of the structure of a society, so we invite you to review which are the most important in the following article, Good manners.