On 27 Jun 96 at 11:55, jpomo@gate.net wrote:
> On Tue, 25 Jun Robert Bacal wrote -
> Driving a car is an action. Coaching a junior is an action.
> Discussing an issue is an action. How one goes about it reflects
> standards for one or more values such as respect/disrespect or
> enthusiasm/negativism. Actions are not the same as values, but they
> may reflect values. What do you think?
I agree but would suggest that this isn't the full picture. The
psychological research on the link between beliefs, values and attitudes
on one hand, and action on the other suggests that a) there is often
little correlation between expressed values, and actions. Beyond that,
for your argument to hold, you would have to explain how a person who
holds certain values will act contrary to them in one situation, and
consistent to them in another. So, I am curious as to how you would
explain a leader who sometimes lies, and sometimes does not?
>
> > > I do not believe that values conflict, only that they appear to
> > > conflict because of lack of understanding.
> I did not mean to offend you, but I still contend that what we
> believe to be conflicts are only misunderstandings. Many people are
> very comfortable with conflicts and accept them as part of the human
> condition. I suffered from those conflicts for years before I was
> able to dispose of them.
I tend to be someone who also tries to examine the issue of false
dichotomies. Psychologically the avoidance of, or rationalization that two
values do not conflict is quite interesting. You might want to look at the
literature on cognitive dissonance, and the psychological processes
involved in denying dissonant information. One can see the effects of
denying value conflicts in history, such as the series of religious wars
carried out in the name of religious values, that, at the same time
contravene other values of that religion. You can see the problem often in
people who cannot recognize that their own behaviour is in fact
inconsistent with what they believe about themselves (dishonesty, for
example), because they rationalize any values conflict. In fact, values
conflict denial may be at the root of unethical, unprincipled behaviour.
I suggest you read festinger (I think that's right), if you would like to
gain some further insight into the dynamics of cognitive dissonance. > > I
am sure that you have picked a case in which you have considerable >
experience and have probably done the research you ask of others. I >
would like to know what research you have done on this subject and > why
you believe there to be a conflict of values.
Let us say that someone who professes adherence to a set of values with
respect to honesty, trustworthiness, openness, consideration, etc enters
the internet. That person, using the resources of the internet in an
inappropriate way, sends 408 messages into 110 newsgroups, most of which
have nothing to do with the product being sold. It becomes so bad that his
messages are autocancelled because they are considered net abuse. Add to
that that the person portrays himself as an impartial reviewer of the
product WITHOUT indicating this, deliberately misleading readers of the
posts. A clear conflict of interest.
How does one reconcile the espousing of values, the misuse and lack of
consideration and the dishonest actions used? Or, perhaps do we conclude
that what they SAY about their values is a sham? Or do you have an
alternate explanation or interpretation?
Despite the fact that
Please provide the
> values you are considering. I assume that honesty is one of the
> values. I will be interested to find out what data you have which
> proves that dishonesty is the best way to provide for the health or
> welfare of the person involved and their loved ones. Do you consider
> food to be a value or is it the action of eating which is a value?
I do not believe that dishonesty is the best way to provide for welfare,
but I am indeed perplexed when I see others conduct their businesses in
dishonest ways, while at the same time, professing a commitment to honest
as a value. What do you believe?
Robert Bacal, CEO, Institute For Cooperative Communication
dbt359@freenet.mb.ca, Located in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
(204 888-9290.
--"Robert Bacal" <dbt359@freenet.mb.ca>
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>