Clarifying Values Clarification: Some Theoretical Issues and a Review of Research

Abstract

This paper explores some of the major components of the values clarification theory. The author presents his own expanded concept of the valuing process central to values clarification. Some of the most frequent criticisms of values clarification are discussed, including the charges that values clarification is "hedonistic, superficial, relativistic, value free, and without a cogent theoretical base." A major part of the paper summarizes the early research on values clarification and nineteen more recent studies. The author holds an eclectic point of view, arguing that values clarification is best achieved when combined with other thoughtful approaches to human growth and development.Since the publication of Values and Teaching (Raths, Harmin, & Simon, 1966), &dquo;values clarification&dquo; has become a popular approach in education and other helping professions. Along with its widespread use, there have been criticisms and several misunderstandings about what this approach is and what its goals actually are. Among other criticisms, values clarification has been called &dquo;hedonistic,&dquo; &dquo;superficial,&dquo; &dquo;relativistic,&dquo; &dquo;value free,&dquo; and devoid of any cogent theoretical base. A second criticism made is that values clarification has no sound basis in research-that we really know very little about whether the approach indeed helps accomplish its objectives: helping students become clearer about the values they do hold, helping them develop their own new values and value systems that lead to purposefulness and commitment, and helping them learn a valuing process that can serve them throughout their lives.Simultaneous with these criticisms, thousands of teachers, parents, counselors, and others have reported that this same approach has been of significant help to them in their work with students, children, and clients, or

Group Counseling of Values Clarification to Increase Middle School Students’ Empathy

“…In addition, values clarification is considered a method of moral education that can encourage the expression of empathy and other normative values (Kirschenbaum, 2000) and basic ethical principles (Oliha & Audu, 2015). Counseling of values clarification refers to a process that helps people use cognition and affect (Kirschenbaum, 1976) to decide on a purpose, and to develop a plan of action for reaching goals (Hart, 1976).…”

Values clarification: Essential for leadership learning

“…Values Clarification. There are many different definitions of values clarification in the literature (Attarian, 1996;Boone, 2003;Kirschenbaum, 1976;Kirschenbaum, Harmin, Howe, & Simon, 1977;Mosconi & Emmett, 2003;Purpel, 1991;Simon & deSherbinin, 1975;Simon, Howe, & Kirschenbaum, 1978). From these, we synthesized a definition of values clarification for this study.…”

Mediation in the Medical Field: Is Neutral Intervention Possible?

“…If we encourage “no‐lose” conflict resolution, then we value equality…. Called before the committee, we can only say that values clarification is not and never has been “value‐free.” 15 …”