Value System and Ethical Position as determinants of Posocial Behaviour

MORENO, E. Y REGNER, E.

Berlín, Alemania

Congreso; XXIX International Congress of Psychology; 2008

CPO HANSER SERVICE

            The main objetive of this paper was to evaluate the relationships between Values System, Ethical Position (absolutism and relativism) and Prosocial Behaviour.        The participants were 710 young university students ranging in age from 18 to 25 years old, from both sexes (322 males, 388 females); 441 Chilean and 269 Argentinian.  Results: Significant differences on Prosocialness and Relativism between low and high terminal values (Pleasure, Salvation and Family Security) groups were found. Considering high and low ranks in Pleasure (hedonic value) we studied its influence on the relativistic position and prosocial behaviour by Manova; noticing significant differences (F.Hotelling (2,344) = 8,67 p=.0001) between High Pleasure group and Low Pleasure group. As regards Family Security and Salvation (religious value), we also found significant differences (F. Hotelling (2, 415) = 8,11 p=.0001 and F. Hotelling (2,477)=9,78 p=.0001. Conclusions:   1- The subjects with a high religious value (Salvation) are less relativistic than the ones with low ranks. 2- The students with a high Family Security value are less relativistic and more prosocial than the ones with low ranks. 3- The subjects with a high hedonic value (Pleasure) are more relativistic and less prosocial than the ones with low ranks. Certain values are better, more desirable for psychological fulfillment and prosocialness than others. Relativism has no significant direct influence on Prosocialness (regression analysis, R square= .005, â= -,07 p=.06)