Values are principles or standards of behavior that individuals or societies consider important. There are many factors that can shape a person’s values and belief systems. In this article, we will explore two key influences on values: family and culture.
Family
Family plays a huge role in instilling values in children from a young age. Parents serve as a child’s first teachers and role models, directly and indirectly imparting lessons about right and wrong, sharing, empathy, discipline, and much more. Through everyday interactions and conscious teachings, parents transfer their values onto their children.
Specific ways family influences values include:
- Explicit teachings about morality – Parents directly explain their views on honesty, kindness, respect, etc.
- Modeling desired behaviors – Children observe and imitate their parents’ actions.
- Establishing rules and discipline – Household guidelines teach children social norms.
- Bonding through traditions – Engaging in meaningful rituals and customs passes down cultural values.
- Discussing current events – Talking about news and issues conveys moral perspectives.
- Selecting social environments – Parents shape peer influences through schools, activities, places of worship.
The home environment also affects values. For example, an emphasis on competition or cooperation shapes worldviews. Birth order can play a role too, as can interactions with siblings and extended family members. Overall, values acquisition begins at a young age within the context of family.
Culture
Culture powerfully influences values development as well. Culture consists of the beliefs, customs, arts, traditions, institutions, and social interactions within a population. Every culture has norms around appropriate behaviors, goals, ideals, and standards.
Growing up within a culture, people internalize its values through:
- Stories and media – Books, movies, shows convey moral messages.
- Language – Words reflect cultural priorities and shape thinking.
- Traditions and rituals – Meaningful practices carry teachings.
- Models of success – What a culture idolizes shows valued traits.
- Laws and policies – Written rules codify right and wrong.
- Institutions like school and religion – Formal systems transmit norms.
- Peer culture – Interacting within one’s cohort spreads values.
- The physical environment – Public spaces convey cultural values.
People from different cultural backgrounds often have different values influenced by their unique social environments. For instance, individualistic cultures like the United States may emphasize values like independence and ambition more than collective cultures like Japan.
Comparing Cultural Influences
To highlight how cultural background shapes values, below is a table comparing the values commonly associated with Chinese and Australian culture:
| Chinese Values | Australian Values |
|---|---|
| Collectivism | Individualism |
| Conformity | Egalitarianism |
| Family recognition through achievement | Importance of leisure time |
| Self-discipline | Informality |
| Deferred gratification | Directness, bluntness |
| Respect for hierarchical relationships | Value on social equality |
While generalizations only go so far, this illustrates how aspects like collectivism and family obligation tend to be emphasized more in Chinese culture, while qualities like informality and work-life balance are promoted more in Australian culture.
Conclusion
In summary, family and culture are two central forces that shape an individual’s values and belief system. Parents impart values through direct teachings, modeling, rules, traditions, and other methods of socialization. Cultures convey values through stories, language, rituals, laws, institutions, peer groups, and more. Together, these influences instill standards of right and wrong that guide perceptions and behaviors throughout life. Understanding how values are formed can provide meaningful insight into oneself and others.
Personal Growth and Self-Reflection
Along our life journeys, it is helpful to reflect on how our upbringing and cultural environments have impacted our values. Through self-awareness, we can consciously consider the principles we find important and make value-aligned choices. While early programming is powerful, as adults we have agency to question our assumptions, broaden our worldviews through education and travel, and ultimately live our values through our actions each day.