The role of value(s) in theories of human behavior

Abstract

Many discourses, both academic and public, assume that values, understood as principles (e.g. fairness, loyalty), lead to behavior. We analyze how 134 theories of human behavior treat values, which we define broadly to include value(s) related to both principles (e.g. moral values) and value(s) related to importance (e.g. cost or priorities). We find that values and closely related constructs comprise roughly a third of all constructs (n = 2232) in analyzed theories. The nuanced portrayal of values–behavior links offered here is crucial for understanding how values may be associated with transformative change: values must be considered holistically (including principles and importance), alongside other factors.