Values and Ethics

1. Let’s take a look at what really matters to you. Values and Ethics What do you believe in? Who do you care about? What motivates you? Are you a spiritual person? Why are you really in college? How do you tell the difference between right and wrong?

2. What are values? • They are the ideas and beliefs about life that guide us to do what we do and be what we are… • They can be about: Politics Family Sex Friends Religion Dishonesty Being of service Taking Risks Education Respect Money Leisure Career And so on…

3. Different kinds of Values • Moral Values: • Values you hold for yourself but don’t force on others such as right vs. wrong, honesty vs. dishonesty, being of service to others • Aesthetic Values: • Personal standards of beauty as seen in nature, art, music, personal appearance • Performance Values: • Benchmarks you set for yourself such as accuracy, speed, reward for achievement, self-discipline and overall accomplishment

4. Means & Ends Values • Instrumental Values (the means): • Objectives used to reach goals such as being responsible, obedient, loving, ambitious, independent, honest • Intrinsic Values (the end): • Personal happiness, a comfortable life, personal freedom, true friendship, a successful career Does the end justify the means? Only you can decide...

5. Having good friends Having a positive relationship Having self-respect & the respect of others Being financially secure Being spiritual Making a meaningful contribution to mankind Being a moral person Being a great athlete Being physically attractive Being creative Being personally responsible Getting along well with people in general Having freedom and independence Being well educated Serving others Having peace of mind Getting recognition (being famous) Being a good citizen Being healthy Being intelligent Having strong family ties Being honest & having integrity Being dedicated and committed Values Checklist Feel free to add your own...

6. Values for College Success • Connecting your personal values to being successful in college: • Clarify your values to be sure you really understand them- • As strange as it may seem, many people operate on values without thinking them through. • Truly understanding your values is key to applying them successfully in college, in a career, or in life. • Make a forthright self-evaluation- • Are your values workable in college? • Do you need to change or re-figure them? • If necessary, change your values to make them more productive and effective… The ability to adapt and change are two primary attributes of a successful student.

7. The Eleventh Commandment Thou shalt not get caught! Moses never said it! Don't you believe it!

8. Challenges to your Values • At college, you are going to meet new people whose values may be quite different, if not totally opposite, to your own. • You may be politically liberal and find yourself befriending a staunch conservative. • Are you going to pass judgment and walk away? • Or are you going to be tolerant and try to see the person in a new way? • Tolerance is a very positive trait, but even it can be carried too far. • If you see your new friend show a really self-destructive tendency, like excessive drinking, it is probably best not to aid and abet them in their weakness, but rather to tell them what you really think. • Your challenge is to balance your personal welfare, your tolerance for diversity and your freedom of choice.

9. Values in Conflict: Dualisms • Values of a society are often in conflict: • Poverty vs. “Rugged Individualism” • The Death Penalty vs. Deterrence of Major Crimes • And so on… • An individual’s values can also be in conflict, often personal values reflect the two-sided nature of our culture’s unresolved contradictory values. • Who is right? Who is wrong? – These are a matter of individual choice, based on both conscience and careful critical thinking. • Think on this duality: • Earning excellent grades in college is critical to success in life. • The most important decision you make in college is about the kind of person you want to be. • “Grades?” Or “Who do you want to be?” How do you resolve this enigma? or

10. Changing Society, Changing Values • American values are changing, caused by: • Demographic changes caused by much immigration from other countries • Globalization of the world economy • Growing environmental concerns • Political polarization • Breakup of the family • Computer technology and the Internet • The Feminist movement • Federal intervention in state’s rights • Terrorism • And on and on… • All of these, and many more, will greatly affect the values of the individual.

11. Think about your legacy… • In order to aid you to understand if you are truly living up to your values, Stephen Covey, author of the bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, suggests you ask yourself this question: • Imagine that you are attending your own funeral, looking down at yourself in the casket. • After you sit down, four people: • A family member • A friend • A co-worker • Someone from your church or community organization give a eulogy for you. • What would you want them to say about you? The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth...

12. Value Assessment Web Resources • College Success Factors Index • http://www.csfi-wadsworth.com • Steps to Successful Career Planning • http://career.asu.edu/S/careerplan/selfdiscovery/ValuesAssessment.htm • Journal of College and Character • http://collegevalues.org/center.cfm • Rutgers Value Assessment • http://careerservices.rutgers.edu/OCAvaluesassessment.html • Ohio Learning Network: Values Assessment • http://www.oln.org/student_services/plan_your_education/assess_values.php

13. Values & Ethics • In the preceding presentation about values, the words morals and morality came up regularly. • Is there a connection between morality and ethics? • Generally, the words are used interchangeably. There is, however, a difference: • Morality is usually more theoretical; it is a philosophical concept. • Ethics are the practical application of morality in daily life. • The difference is that of theory and practice. • If a person has a moral character, he or she will generally deal with other people in an ethical manner. A moral person will generally act ethically.

14. A 28 Day Project • In order to determine what you believe is the most important personal value of all, here is a method originally developed by the ancient Greeks for determining something really important. • At the same time every day (for instance, upon rising in the morning or at bedtime) for 28 days, keep a journal and write down: “The personal value I consider most important is ______” Try to keep it to as few items as possible. One thing is best, but if you have several items, write them down. Limit yourself to no more than three. • At about the 25th or 26th day of the procedure, one particular value should emerge as the predominant one. • Enjoy, learn and grow! Values are to our lives as maps are to navigators, they determine our course...