BASIC VALUES

A Template ForInterpreting Our World

The Basic Values are the work of Dr. Marvin K. Mayers

The following information is taken in part from the course Personal and Interpersonal Development at Biola University and in part from the preliminary edition (1982) of The Basic Values: A Model of Cognitive Styles for Analyzing Human Behavior.

Uses For the Basic Values

Analysis Self

Others

Across cultures

A window to change

Nature of the Basic Values

Sets of Continua

Non-judgmental

Styles of relating, communicating and thinking

Cultural trends

Time vs. EventSeconds, minutes, hoursPunctualityStick to the programPressure to meet goalsTime spent to production equivalence

Who’s thereWhat’s going onEvent embellishmentNo set beginning or endAd lib

Dichotomy Holism

Dichotomy

Dichotomy

Black – White

Right – Wrong

On – Off

Here – There

Dichotomy Holism

Dichotomy

Trichotomy

Trichotomy

Black – Gray – White

Right – In-process – Wrong

On – Pause – Off

Dichotomy Holism

Dichotomy

Trichotomy

List

List

Blue – Red – Yellow – Green

Choices and Points

Gradient

Dichotomy Holism

Dichotomy

Matrix

Trichotomy

List

Matrix

a b c d e

1 x

2 x

3 x

4

5 x x

Dichotomy Holism

Dichotomy

Matrix

Trichotomy

List Kaleidoscope

Kaleidoscope

r

A

b

s

t

a

c i o

n

t

Abstraction

t

A

Dichotomy Holism

Dichotomy

Matrix

Trichotomy

List Kaleidoscope

Holism

Holism

Circular thinking

Not segmented, integrated

All parts explainable within the whole

Holism

Dichotomy Holism

Dichotomy

Matrix

Trichotomy

List Kaleidoscope

Crisis vs. Non-Crisis

Need for expert“I am right”The right answerThe right way to do thingsInstructor-centered learning

No right answerThere are many alternativesMay not even give an answerStudent-centered learning

Object-as- Person-as- Goal vs. Goal

AccomplishmentPurposeHigh productionTo the detriment of self and others

Relationships are the priorityWill sacrifice a goalNothing interferes

Vulnerability-as- Vulnerability-as- Weakness vs. Strength

Threatened by making an errorBlaming others to avoid admitting errorTied up in appearances

Non-threatened by admitting mistakesOpen to changeFree to be adventurous

Prestige Prestige Ascribed vs. Achieved

PositionExternal locus of controlExpects others to respect his/ her rankSacrifices to earn the rank

AchievementInternal locus of controlRising through the ranksRespect follows position achieved

Left Brain Right Brain

Western EasternTimeDichotomyCrisisObject as goalVulnerability as weaknessPrestige ascribed

EventHolismNon-CrisisPerson as goalVulnerability as strengthPrestige achieved

Applying the Basic Values

First take a look at yourself – Where do you as individual fall on the continua?

Next take a look at the groups you are a part of – What are the Basic Values of those groups?

Applying the Basic Values

Remove the judgments – different is not bad… it’s just different.

When assessing projects/sites from other cultures, look for that culture’s Basic Values.

Applying the Basic Values

Important note: If you are surprised or irritated with something you see, hear or experience it could be a Basic Values conflict.