What are the 6 main values?

Why individual choice values matter for everyday decisions

Individual choice values are the enduring beliefs people hold about desirable end states or preferred modes of conduct, and they help explain why some options feel right in one moment and wrong in another, according to psychological research An Overview of the Schwartz Theory of Basic Values.

Knowing your individual choice values makes routine decisions easier. For example, a career move may align with achievement for one person and self direction for another. Identifying those priorities can reduce hesitation when choices are close. For more on the author, see Michael Carbonara.

Values also interact with situational pressures. A short-term emergency can make security feel more urgent, while a steady long-term goal may bring self direction to the fore; readers should expect some context sensitivity and plan follow-up reflection.

What psychologists mean by values: Schwartz’s basic values explained

Schwartz’s model is a compact taxonomy researchers still use to organize the common types of human values, and it frames values as general goals that guide behavior and judgment An Overview of the Schwartz Theory of Basic Values.

The model groups values into about ten broad types. These are described as distinct but related orientations people use to prioritize ends and means in life, and scholars treat the taxonomy as descriptive rather than prescriptive.

Below is a plain list of the ten broad types named in the framework, presented so readers can see where common everyday priorities fit: security, tradition, benevolence, universalism, self-direction, stimulation, hedonism, achievement, power, and conformity.

Practitioner guides also adapt the taxonomy into simpler groupings for exercises, using the same core ideas to help people identify personal priorities without implying a single correct list A Practical Method for Discovering Your Personal Values.

Six value types people commonly prioritize

Many practical exercises and summaries highlight six value types people often end up naming when asked to prioritize what matters most: security, benevolence, self direction, achievement, universalism, and tradition. This selection is a pragmatic grouping based on academic taxonomy and practitioner guidance.

1) Security: A focus on safety, stability, and predictability. Example: choosing a job with steady income over a riskier opportunity.

2) Benevolence: Prioritizing close relationships and helping others. Example: spending time supporting a family member instead of extra work hours.

3) Self direction: Valuing independence and creativity. Example: choosing a project that allows autonomy over a routine assignment.

4) Achievement: Seeking success and measurable progress. Example: accepting a role that offers clear promotion paths.

5) Universalism: Emphasizing fairness, equality, and concern for broader communities. Example: volunteering or supporting policies for public benefit.

6) Tradition: Respecting customs and continuity. Example: choosing practices that maintain family or community rituals.

These six types map directly to Schwartz’s categories and appear frequently in practitioner lists as accessible labels people can use when describing their top priorities A Practical Method for Discovering Your Personal Values.

Complementary approaches: character strengths and inventories

Character-strength frameworks, such as the VIA Institute’s inventory, use trait-focused language rather than taxonomy categories and can help people express priorities as actionable strengths rather than abstract goals How to Identify Your Core Values.

Inventories produce lists of named strengths that many programs use to phrase priorities in day-to-day terms, for example labeling a priority as “leadership” rather than a broad category like achievement.

These tools are complementary: taxonomies describe what values are, while strengths inventories offer practical wording and exercises people can use to test how a value looks in behavior.

A practical 6-step method to identify your individual choice values

Below is a focused 6-step exercise you can complete in one sitting or across two short sessions. It draws on proven techniques like listing, ranking, and pairwise comparison to produce a short, actionable list you can test against real choices How to Find Your Core Values: Exercises and Examples.

Step 1, Listing meaningful moments (10-15 minutes): Write three recent decisions that felt important or charged. Include one from work or school, one from family or personal life, and one civic or community choice if relevant.

Step 2, Extracting value words (15 minutes): For each moment, note the main reasons you chose what you did. Turn reasons into single-word values, for example “security,” “autonomy,” or “service.” Use both taxonomy words and strengths-language where helpful.

Step 3, Ranking and pairwise comparison (20-30 minutes): List your candidate values and first rank them by gut sense. Then apply pairwise elimination: compare two values at a time and select which matters more for your life goals until you reach three.

Step 4, Testing with recent choices (10 minutes): Check each top value against the three meaningful moments from Step 1. Does your chosen value consistently explain the choice? If not, adjust wording or rank and re-test.

Step 5, Drafting a top 3 (5 minutes): Write a simple statement for each top value that explains what it looks like in practice, for example, “Self direction: I prioritize projects that let me set methods and schedules.”

Timing guidance: the full exercise can take 60 to 90 minutes in one sitting, or break into two sessions: Steps 1-3 first, Steps 4-6 later. Document each step in a notebook or digital file so you can track changes over time. See the news for related posts.

How to decide between competing values: decision criteria

When values conflict, use concrete criteria to decide. Practical prompts include: what are the short-term and long-term consequences, how well does the option align with my sense of identity, is the decision reversible, and how often will similar choices arise?

For example, ask: “If I choose A now, will I regret it in a year?” and “Does choosing B fit the person I want to be most days?” These prompts help shift the choice from guessing to reasoned assessment, and research links such reflection to more consistent decisions over time Values and Decision‑Making: Psychological Perspectives.

Quick checklist to copy: 1) Consequences for the next year, 2) Identity alignment, 3) Reversibility, 4) Frequency of similar decisions. Use this list when a pairwise comparison leaves you unsure.

Common mistakes and pitfalls to avoid

One common error is confusing values with goals or tactics. Saying “I want to be CEO” describes a goal, not a value. Instead, ask what value that goal serves, such as achievement or influence How to Find Your Core Values: Exercises and Examples.

A second pitfall is using vague labels. Replace broad terms like “goodness” with clearer words such as “benevolence” or a named strength like “compassion.” Re-test labels against recent choices to see if they match behavior.

Finally, avoid relying on a single snapshot. Values can shift with life phases or cultural context. Schedule periodic reviews and use follow-up tests to check stability rather than assuming permanence.

Three short scenarios: applying the 6-step method

Scenario A, career choice: A person lists a recent job offer, extracts “achievement” and “self direction,” uses pairwise comparison to prioritize self direction, and then selects a role that allows autonomy while setting milestones for progress.

Scenario B, family time tradeoff: Someone chooses between a work task and a family event, extracts “benevolence” and “achievement,” and finds benevolence leads to spending the evening with family while planning a future task schedule to protect work goals.

Scenario C, civic engagement decision: A voter considers volunteering for two causes, pulls values “universalism” and “tradition,” and chooses the activity that best matches broader fairness concerns while keeping one local tradition commitment.

Try a quick prompt now: pick one current choice, list two values that pull you, and run one pairwise comparison to see which guides you more.

Conclusion and next steps: keeping your values current

To recap, individual choice values are enduring beliefs that shape choices, and a simple 6-step method of listing, extracting words, ranking, pairwise comparison, and testing can produce a usable top three for decision making A Practical Method for Discovering Your Personal Values.

Set a review schedule: check your top three in four weeks and again in six months. If you find frequent shifts, document contexts that drive change and consider using a strengths inventory for finer wording. Learn more on the about page.