How Protected are Your
Protected Values?
In Hoch (2001), the authors open chapter 14 saying how important
are values and how they play a direct role in decision making. Values are
criteria for evaluating states of affairs, that are explicitly and reflectively
endorsed by the holder, and they are our best judgments of the goodness of
outcomes, although I personally do not agree they are as reflective as the
authors initially state, an opinion I will explain along this post.
The issue with values happens when people try to guard them against
inconsistencies, by creating protected values (PV), which while providing a way
for people to avoid making harmful trade-offs, makes it impossible to satisfy
across all situations. Protected values mean that they will never be traded off
for another gain, but what the authors prove through scientific researches is
that even these values can fade in certain contexts, which means, they are not as
protected as claimed.
Dealing with values is not an easy task, since it brings beliefs
based in background, culture (dominant values of the society), and often comes
from childhood (Taylor, 2012). The effect of dominant cultural values and how
people hold onto them while making even small decisions, is shown by Iyengar
(2011). The complexity of PVs carries consequently complex, but possible,
solutions. The process of decision-making is particularly difficult when it involves
emotional and ethical values or when it puts values in conflict, although
conflicting values can be used as a strategy to dribble the negative
restricting influence of PVs (Hoch, 2001).
It is important to know when and why values and decisions may be
inconsistent, to find effective solutions. Going through the source of theses inconsistencies,
the authors in Hoch (2001) mention that a range of studies has shown people are
inconsistent in identifying their preferences, even across seemingly minor
changes in the way the questions are asked. This point brings me back to a speech
given by Barry Schwartz (2005), when the
professor raises the paradox of choice, how our preferences, the simultaneous options
available and our values have been shaped along the years, in parallel with the
minor changes of how the questions are being asked, which is a relevant point
brought by Iyengar (2012) as well.
Inconsistencies in preference do not occur randomly, but rather
are sensitive to and shaped by the context of the decision. Many studies have
shown that the context of decisions robustly and consistently affects
preference. Among the contexts that affect the application of values are (Hoch,
2001):
1. Sequential versus simultaneous (if options are presented one at
a time, decision makers may be more likely to trade off values than if they see
all options simultaneously).
2. Buying versus selling (people are more focused on values when
they are asked to give up or sell something than if they are buying or
obtaining it. Selling (giving up) is more driven by emotions such as guilt and
responsibility, reflecting general ethical values.
3. Pricing versus rating (decision makers also tend to weigh values
more heavily when they are rating options rather than pricing them).
The reason why people abandon their values also is related to
the construction (or lack of it), leaving just an appearance to be strongly
held. I believe values are formed
usually without consent of the holder, and not constructed by him/her. I can see in this personal analysis the
passive way that values are brought to our lives as social beings. This nature carries
the fact that rarely values are put to test. In contraction of my analysis, the
authors in Hoch (2001) state that values are like concepts, which are
constructed from knowledge and experience as well. The authors highlight that if
values are seen as constructed, we can ask whether they are constructed well,
just as we can ask whether concepts are formed well. Constructed or formed,
this passive nature of values leaves a gap on its strong foundation and
consequently on its consistency and accuracy. If PVs are unreflective in this
way, then they should be put into simple challenges, as questioning, analysis
while conflicting the consequences inside the same context, and proposing
counterexamples, strategies that have been tested to be effective in
researches.
Reflecting on three of my major values, based on my beliefs (analysis
of values formation), and considering the pros and cons (applying the challenging
strategy) of each belief, and their consequence (as a conflicting strategy), I
came to the following conclusion, in no specific order:
Value 1: Truth
* Belief 1: Is always the right thing to do, to hold on to.
- Pros: shows trustworthy character, building trust among others,
and bringing a feeling of accountability and accomplishment in following by principles
formed in childhood and followed by my religious beliefs.
- Cons: in decisions involving finances, especially in intense
trading markets, lye or omission, could be used as a playing card in
negotiation.
* Belief 2: Do
not leave gap for contradictions
- Pros: Peace in moving on after mistakes are made, confidence
in dealing with the negative impacts of poor decisions.
- Cons: being blamed and judged for poor decisions, intensifying
the feeling of failure.
* Belief 3: Strengthens
confidence in decision making
- Pros: in doubting negotiations, it gives the confidence of
using the truth as a trade resource, by knowing that whatever the consequence of
the negotiation, it will come in my benefit.
- Cons: losing all types of opportunities (financial, career,
personal, social) which could be enhanced if lying even if slightly.
*
Potential consequence
I have witnessed already all the cons mentioned, and that is why
I hold into this value while making decision. I have discussed this PV in a previous
task of this course, and ironically, I have been faced with several situations
right afterwards, which I planned to lie to take financial advantage. Hoch
(2001) mentions that money is a common factor of PVs inconsistency. Every time
I played a negotiation in my mind using the “power” of lies, I remembered about
what I mentioned in that task. Just by thinking of it, and perhaps using it at
first unconsciously, it shows how not so protected this value is for me.
Value 2: Loyalty
* Belief 1: Shows the
depth of my principles
- Pros: clarity of who I am and what I am based onto.
- Cons: If not followed, brings irreversible consequences,
especially in personal relationship.
* Belief 2: Brings
only peaceful consequences
- Pros: avoid distraction while completing important task, in
leisure times, it allows to live it fully, since my mind is in peace, deduct
one possible subject in my overthinking brain/mind.
- Cons: does not allow to live new opportunities, when the
current in in question.
* Belief 3: Keeps
positive reputation and protection of positive image
- Pros: long term professional deals and lasting personal
relationships
are more probable.
- Cons: over focus on reputation and image, possibly distracting
from other important values.
*
Potential consequence
If loyalty is fully on hold, I believe it brings more positive consequences.
I use it subconsciously as trade coin for my relationships. I can remember a
time, in my teens, that I was used to firmly say I would never cheat on
someone, and caught myself doing it when I was a “convenient” environment, and
in an “inconvenient” relationship. As a teen I was so full of certainty and
when I realized I have broken this value, I also realized that values are abandoned
according to convenience, unless they are tested. After abandoning it, I still
went back to my values, and brought the truth to the table. There were
consequences, but afterwards I was simply in peace, and I did not repeat my
mistake, because after tested I just confirmed it must be a highly protected
value. Nowadays, I believe it is the main foundation of my marriage and my valuable
friendships.
Value 3: Perfection/ Mastery
* Belief 1: Excel is a
win-win attitude (present and future)
- Pros: creation of a habit in exceling, outstanding in the
crowd, creation of career opportunities
- Cons: makes it difficult to define priorities, when
overwhelmed in tasks.
* Belief 2: expose
your strong beliefs
- Pros: exposing trustworthy character (as in other values), being
looked for when people need a task accomplished.
- Cons: if I fail, it bring disappointment on people (especially
myself), questioning my value as a whole.
* Belief 3: no
matter the current reality, mastering shows who I am
- Pros: more than a value or a belief, it becomes a label.
- Cons: self-expectations, to the overwhelming point.
*
Potential consequence
Currently I am questioning this value, mainly because the way I
am facing my studies. I always gave my 1000% on every task given to me and
taken by me (especially with studies and career). I am dealing with different
decisions and passing through a shift in focus in my personal life, which is
jeopardizing this value. I strongly believe I need to balance my life, and stop
being so harsh on myself, because it hurts me in the long-run, but when I see
the results of my work (not just in my master, but in my job) it makes me feel frustrated
for the poor-quality of a delivered task in hand. And to my surprise I did not
find a balance either. But I am looking for solutions, sparing more time for my
studies, dedicating myself more in this given time, and controlling other
personal time frames.
Before this exercise, I was already aware of how unprotected my
pseudo-protected values were. This exercise assisted me on going through them
one-by-one and re-evaluating if they are values that should be protected or not
in negotiations. Although is a consequence in process, I believe it was of a
great value to better understand myself, increasing my self-awareness, which I believe
is the key for success.
References
Hoch, S., Gunther, R., Kunreuther, H. (2001). Wharton on Making Decisions. New York, NY: Wiley.
Iyengar, S. (2011). How to make choosing easier. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/sheena_iyengar_choosing_what_to_choose#t-8329,
on January 25th, 2019.
Iyengar, S. (2012). The art of choosing. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/sheena_iyengar_on_the_art_of_choosing#t-84862,
on September 17th, 2018.
Schwartz,
B. (2005). The paradox of choice. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice#t-45566,
on February 5th 2019.
Taylor, J.
(2012). Personal Growth: Your values, your life. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-power-prime/201205/personal-growth-your-values-your-life,
on February 7th, 2019.
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