Divergence of Values

April 13, 2011 at 1:37 pm

Research by Jonathan Haidt, Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia provides an astonishing insight into the five values with which are all born, and the divergence which occurs later in life and provide the catalyst for change which drive organisations forward.

Haidt’s research shows that we are all born with an inherent sense of five values.

1) Care for others

2) Be fair

3) Be loyal

4) Respect authority

5) Purity and sanctity

As we grow older, people universally continue to attach worth to the first two: care and be fair.

However, an important divergence occurs with the last three values.

People who are high in the personality trait of “openness” tend to reject the last three values, whilst those who are low in the “openness” trait continue to attach importance to loyalty, authority, and purity.

Individuals who are low in “openness” recognise and value the importance of organising into teams, and that teams require some authority structure and self restraint to make them effective.

At the same time, those who are high on “openness”  tend to value personal autonomy and diversity more, whilst also challenging authority to bring about positive changes and overcome what they see as oppression.

Both viewpoints are valid and necessary as we need stability in organisations but we also need change and it is the differences within our teams which often provides the catalyst to move forward.

Follow the link below to find out more:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind.html