CMJR 350 Blog #1: Response to Ryan's question

2.) In Chapter 6, “The Psychology of Persuasion”, in a section labeled “The Interactions of Beliefs, Attitudes and Values”, Page 137, Woodward and Denton state:

“Our value system gives meaning to the world around us by providing frames of reference and cues for acceptable behavior. Attitudes help us form the dos and don’ts of our daily lives.”

This statement made me think, aren’t attitudes and beliefs rooted in values. I mean Woodward and Denton, say later on that our value system help create a framework for what we believe as acceptable in this world, while our attitudes and beliefs help us form the dos and don’ts of our daily lives. Isn’t what we perceive as acceptable, a basis for what we believe is the good and bad, or in this case our dos and don’ts? Are dos and don’ts different from good and bad? He says earlier that values are much harder to express, while attitudes and beliefs are expressed regularly through conversation. Knowing that values may be inherent to Attitudes and Beliefs couldn’t it be said that values are inherent to our daily expression?

This question makes several good points about values, beliefs and attitudes. While they all represent something different, they are so intertwined that it becomes difficult to tell where one's beliefs and and their values start. Yes, it is true that our values form the framework by which we decide what we do and don't do.
Dos and don'ts, to me are one in the same with good and bad. The choices we make, what we do and what we don't are dictated by our perceptions of what is right and wrong. What one believes is right and wrong is influenced by that person's dos and don'ts.
It is true that values are more difficult to express outright. A person doesn't go around announcing their values to justify actions. Action and expression speak for themselves and display our values whether we are conscious of it or not. It is nearly impossible to act without regard to one's values because they permeate every aspect of our lives.
I would argue that values have the most influence on forming our dos and don'ts of daily life. However, values, beliefs and attitudes all function on the same level and removing one wouldn't allow the other two to function in the way they are meant to or that we are used to.
Values also serve us in many, many more ways than laying out references and cues for acceptable behavior. Woodward and Denton give several different examples of what values are, how they are shaped and how they shape people.
"Values are out central, core ideas about how to conduct our lives. They represent what we intrinsically consider right or wrong (Woodward and Denton 140)."
"Thus, values are ideals, overarching goals that people wish to obtain. Values are more global and general than attitudes (140)."
Values also manifest themselves differently from person to person, depending on their system of values. This makes it difficult to attempt to generalize the roll that values play in society.