Human Values and Psychological Processes
Summary
Human values represent enduring beliefs about desirable end states or behaviours that guide individual choices and social interactions. Psychological processes encompass the cognitive, emotional and motivational mechanisms through which values exert their influence, shaping perception, decision-making and action. Contemporary frameworks emphasise the dynamic interplay between value priorities and situational cues, highlighting how abstract ideals are instantiated in concrete behaviours. Cross-cultural investigations reveal both universal structures—such as the tension between self-transcendence and self-enhancement—and culturally specific patterns in value expression. Research has further elucidated the neural and affective substrates of value-driven choices, demonstrating how reward-sensitive circuits and emotion regulation systems mediate the translation of values into behaviour. This integrative perspective has practical applications across domains including environmental stewardship, consumer decision-making, mental health interventions and civic engagement, underscoring the global significance of understanding how values inform psychological processes and societal outcomes.
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Human Values and Psychological Processes publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in human values and psychological processes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Basic human values: Core motivational goals classified into dimensions such as self-transcendence, self-enhancement, openness to change and conservation.
Self-transcendence: A value orientation that emphasises concern for the welfare and interests of others and the broader community.
Self-enhancement: A value orientation prioritising personal success, power and achievement over collective interests.
Value instantiation: The process by which abstract values are interpreted and applied to specific behaviours or situations.
Motivational neuroscience: The study of brain circuits and processes that underlie goal-directed behaviour driven by values and rewards.
References
- Are our values becoming more fit for artificial intelligence society? A longitudinal study of occupational values and occupational susceptibility to technological substitution. Technology in Society (2023).
- How personal and social-focused values shape the purchase intention for organic food: Cross-country comparison between Thailand and Germany. Journal of Cleaner Production (2024).
- Self-focused value profiles relate to climate change skepticism in young adolescents. Journal of Environmental Psychology (2023).
- Cross-Cultural Differences and Similarities in Human Value Instantiation. Frontiers in Psychology (2018).
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