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From Values to Behavior and from Behavior to Values

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Values and Behavior

Abstract

Values are commonly defined as guiding principles in life. Therefore, we could expect to see some correlation between values and behavior. In this chapter, I critically review the existing literature, drawing upon research that has used paper–pencil reports of behavior, value–behavior linkages in public speech and texts as well as field experimental studies that examined the relationship between values and ritualistic action. Self-reports of decontextualized behavior are moderately associated with motivationally congruent values, especially if there are few social and environmental constraints. Studies of public speeches and texts as well as laboratory and field studies investigating effects of collective rituals also show some moderately strong correlation between values and behaviors, but suggest that values trail behaviors and/or situational demands (e.g., individuals adjust their behaviors after they enact a behavior or when placed in a specific situation). To examine plausible causal links, I focus on self-perception theory, construal level theory and neuroscience theories of mental representations. Bringing these different strands together, I sketch the outlines of a development-based eco-cultural neuroscience theory of values and behavior that is consistent with the currently available data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology and Centre for Applied Cross-Cultural Research, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

    Ronald Fischer

  2. Interacting Minds Centre, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark

    Ronald Fischer

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  1. Ronald Fischer
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Correspondence to Ronald Fischer .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Education and Psychology, The Open University of Israel, Ra’anana, Israel

    Sonia Roccas

  2. School of Business Administration, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Lilach Sagiv

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Fischer, R. (2017). From Values to Behavior and from Behavior to Values. In: Roccas, S., Sagiv, L. (eds) Values and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56352-7_10

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