Values ​​and wisdom: how to become wiser

The word values ​​refers to what we value in life and what we think is good and bad. Values ​​are important because they strongly influence our judgments, choices and behaviors. Self-determination theory research shows that when we engage in activities that are consistent with our values, we feel and function better. But what kind of values ​​can we have? In this article I describe characteristics of values ​​and explain Shalom Schwartz's Theory of Fundamental Human Values. Then I describe which values ​​wise people especially have and which they especially don't have. If you want to get wiser, maybe you can take some inspiration from this.

Characteristics of values

Schwartz (2012) explains that all values ​​have the following characteristics:

1. Values ​​are beliefs that are inseparable from affect . When values ​​are activated… they are imbued with feeling.
2. Values ​​refer to desirable goals that motivate action.
3. Values ​​transcend specific actions and situations.
4. Values ​​serve as norms or criteria. Values ​​guide the selection or evaluation of actions, policies, people, and events.
5. Values ​​are ranked by importance in relation to each other.
6. The relative importance of multiple values ​​drives action.

Schwartz's Theory of Fundamental Human Values

Based on worldwide research, Schwartz developed a taxonomy of values ​​consisting of the following ten human values, divided into four categories. These values ​​prove to be relevant to people all over the world. To what extent individuals subscribe to these values ​​is partly determined by their cultural background.

1. Openness to change

• Self-direction: Think and act independently – choose, create, explore.
• Stimulation: Excitement, novelty and challenge in life.

2. Self-Improvement

• Hedonism: Pleasure or sensual gratification for oneself.
• Achievement: Personal success by demonstrating competence according to social norms.
• Power: Social status and prestige, control or dominance over people and resources.

3. Conservation

• Security: Security, harmony and stability of society, of relationships and of oneself.
• Conformity: Restriction of actions, inclinations, and impulses that may disturb or harm others and that run counter to social expectations or norms.
• Tradition: Respect, commitment, and acceptance of the customs and ideas offered by one's culture or religion.

4. Self-transcendence

• Benevolence: Maintaining and improving the well-being of those with whom one has frequent personal contact (the “in-group”).
• Universalism: Understanding, appreciation, tolerance and protection for the good of all people and for nature.

Values Circumplex

Schwarz has organized these values ​​into a circular structure (a circumplex) as shown below. This division allows values ​​to be viewed as organized along two bipolar dimensions: opposing values ​​of Self-Transcendence and Self-Improvement, and opposing values ​​of Preservation and Openness to Change.

Who values ​​what?

Research has shown that people from different backgrounds subscribe to different values. More politically conservative people usually subscribe to the following values ​​a little more: security, preservation and power. More politically progressive people tend to endorse the value of universalism somewhat more (Sternberg & Glück, 2022).

Values ​​and wisdom

Glück, et al. (2021) investigated the relationship between values ​​and wisdom. this research showed that wise people endorsed certain values ​​more than most other people and less of other specific values:

• Values ​​that wise people endorse more : self-direction, universalism and beneficence
• Values ​​that wise people endorse less : security and power

The importance of wisdom

In this recent article, I explain why wisdom is important and is likely to become increasingly important in our world. Very briefly, in that article I explain that wisdom is a complex concept that combines metacognitive skills and morality for solving ill-structured problems in social, organizational and global contexts. With the emergence of new technologies, wisdom is perhaps more important than ever for improving the quality of our lives. Although developing wisdom is difficult, we can strive for it daily and grow little by little, making us better equipped to tackle the big problems of the future.

What you can do if you want to become wiser

Our values ​​don't have to be fixed. Through experience and reflection we can learn to value other things. If you want to become wiser, it might be worth reflecting on what matters to you. You could then think about how you can give the following values ​​a bigger role in your life:

1. Self -direction: Think and act independently – choose, create, explore.
2. Universalism: Understanding, appreciation, tolerance and protection for the good of all people and for nature.
3. Benevolence: Maintaining and improving the well-being of those with whom one has frequent personal contact (the “in-group”).

In addition, you could think about how you can give the following values ​​less of a role in your life:

1. Power: Social status and prestige, control or dominance over people and resources
2. Security: Security, harmony and stability of society, of relationships and of oneself.