Personal Values

The personal values evolve from experiences with the external world and can change over time.  Integrity in the application of a value refers to its continuity; persons have integrity if they apply their value appropriately regardless of arguments or negative reinforcement from others. Values are applied appropriately when they are applied in the right area.  For example, it would be appropriate to apply religious values in times of happiness as well as in times of despair.

      Thus, personal values are implicitly related to choice; they guide decisions by allowing for an individual's choices to be compared to each choice's associated values. 'Personal values developed early in life may be resistant to change.  They may be derived from those of particular groups or systems.  Such as culture, religion, and political party. However, personal values are not universal; one's genes, family, nation and historical environment determine one's personal values. This is not to say that the value concepts themselves are not universal, merely that each individual possess a unique conception of them.