Rosie, you're
an
You've earned this title because you appear to have exceptionally
high ethical standards when compared with many around you. It also seems
that you typically manage to adhere to these ideals and expect that
others do the same. Consequently, if you come upon a winning lottery
ticket lying in the street, you're one of those rare types who'd probably
search high and low for its rightful owner. You likely know that many
other people would simply take the money and run, but that wouldn't
feel right to you. Whether you're admitting when you've done wrong,
holding yourself back from snooping into others' private things, or
not accepting what doesn't belong to you, you strive to remain an honest,
upstanding person.
These standards can lead you to bring out the best in yourself and
others. However, they may also mean that the people around you let you
down from time to time. When others conduct themselves in ways you find
dishonest, forgiveness may not come easily to you. Try to remember,
though, that mistakes are part of life. There are times when everyone
could use a second chance. Consider putting your giving, caring nature
to use by offering the wrongdoer your support in the same way that you'd
aid a vulnerable person in need. That way both of you can benefit from
your high ideals.
Who You're Compatible With
Besides people of your own type, the two types that are the best matches
for you are the Gentle Protector and Responsible Friend.
Gentle Protector:
Gentle Protectors have earned this title because as people who recognize
that they can make a difference in the world, they tend to be more mindful
of their actions than most others are. They would probably also agree
that they make concerted efforts to be helpful and giving to those around
them. Because Gentle Protectors like to feel that everyone is taken
care of, they're one of those rare types who'll go out of their way
to protect the vulnerable from harm. Whether a little old lady needs
help crossing the street or a neighbor's cat is stuck in a tree, you're
likely to find a Gentle Protector right there to lend a hand. Members
of this group also seem clear about their responsibility to society
at large. As a result, if they find someone doing wrong, they may go
out on a limb and notify the authorities so that dire consequences can
be prevented.
Many Gentle Protectors appear to be more personally concerned about
situations that violate innocents' rights than most others are. As a
result, they may find themselves involved in local charitable activities
or keeping a close eye on humanitarian efforts around the world. Chances
are, they can't bear to see others suffering or being taken advantage
of. This kind of empathy, coupled with their ordinarily giving nature,
can make Gentle Protectors real crusaders for the underdog. Interestingly
enough, it seems their care for other living things goes beyond their
fellow humans. In fact, it's likely that these people count themselves
as friends and protectors of the earth around them, as well. For this
group, going the extra mile to recycle, conserve energy, or use earth-friendly
products may simply seem like the sensible thing to do. Their can-do
attitude and caring are things that others can admire.
Responsible Friend:
Responsible Friends have earned this title because with their loyal,
trustworthy, and giving natures, they're the kind of people almost anyone
would be proud to call friends. The high value they appear to place
on their personal integrity is indeed an admirable trait. Responsible
Friends seem to try to live by the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you
would have them do unto you. Because of this inclination, they can insist
on taking responsibility for their actions, even in difficult circumstances.
So if one of them were over at a friend's house and accidentally knocked
over an expensive antique vase, they're not the kind to try to blame
it on the cat. In fact, not only are they likely to own up to the mistake,
they might even scour local antique stores until they find the perfect
replacement.
Responsible Friends also appear to take conscious steps to honor their
commitments to others. As a result, if they tell a colleague they'll
help at a charity event early on a Sunday morning, chances are they'll
be there — no matter what they did the night before. And although
they probably wouldn't call themselves crusaders for social causes or
the environment, chances are they do their part. As people who are loyal
to their friends and helpful when called upon, they can be proud of
the positive effect they can have on the people they care about and
the community at large. |
|
Now that you know a bit about your values type and who you're most
compatible with, it's time to delve more deeply into the ideas that
shape your values. To help you do that, the following chart (below)
describes the eight key values and how you scored on each. But first,
take a look at your overall scores relative to others who took the test.
Value #1: Don't take what doesn't belong to you.
There are times when you can get something for nothing, so long as
you take advantage of an opportune situation and don't say anything.
A watch left in a locker room, the extra ten-dollar bill a cashier gives
you by mistake: These are prime examples of the kinds of things that
can come into your possession if you allow them to. Many people feel
that this kind of behavior is wrong. They believe that if something
isn't really theirs, it should simply be left to its rightful owner.
The types of questions Emode asked to assess your feelings about this
particular value concerned your willingness to keep things that don't
belong to you. The questions typically dealt with taking things at the
expense of a business rather than a friend or a personal connection.
In these kinds of examples, the choice to take something would harm
only a far-off person or entity, and you likely wouldn't see the effects
of your actions. As a result, in these kinds of cases it might be more
tempting to take what you can get away with. For example, here's a question
that assesses Value #1:
You lose your wedding ring and are reimbursed by your insurance company.
Later, you find the ring under your couch. Would you keep the money
you got from your insurance company?
If you would keep it, you scored lower in this value than if you answered
that you would not keep it. Based on your responses, it appears that
you have more of this value than 99 percent of the people who took the
Values test.
Deep Down
There are many
reasons a person might take what doesn't belong to them. The most
common one is that someone believes that whatever they find or take
is rightfully theirs. For instance, some people have a sense of entitlement
that can make them feel as though life owes them something. In this
way, they can look at the unlikely things that come into their possession
as a kind of earned payment. Also, there are people who believe that
companies in general are out to rob from the average citizen. Therefore,
they feel that whenever one can steal something back from big business,
it's okay. Finally, there are people who know that they shouldn't
take what doesn't belong to them, but they go against their values
and do it anyway. All the same, most people have respect for others'
belongings, regardless of how much they might wish that they had
more money or possessions.
You scored relatively high on this dimension.
Your results suggest that you're less likely than many to feel entitled
to keep something that doesn't technically belong to you. This is
good news for the rest of the world. Chances are, acting this way
is ingrained in you because it makes you feel good about yourself
or presents some kind of reward. For example, if you're a person
who gains satisfaction from giving to others, taking something that
doesn't belong to you would likely feel wrong. Therefore, to prevent
feeling badly about yourself, you aren't likely to take what isn't
yours. You may also have been taught clear rights and wrongs by your
parents or mentors. Whether you were educated about this value from
others or learned firsthand that respecting people's property is
a good thing to do, keep it up. Your sound judgment can promote a
healthier, happier environment for all involved. |
Value #2: Own up to your mistakes.
Although people typically love to take credit for their successes,
it can be harder to take the blame when things go badly. Emode's test
looked at how you feel about admitting to your mistakes. To do this,
certain questions placed you in situations where owning up to your mistakes
was both (1) unnecessary, because no one was likely to know it was your
fault, and (2) costly to you, in terms of negatively affecting your
career or your relationships, or simply being a bad emotional experience.
For example, consider this question:
You make a mistake that costs your company thousands of dollars,
but a co-worker gets blamed for it. Would you set the record straight?
If you said, "Definitely set the record straight," you indicated
being high in this value. There were several questions that assessed
Value #2, and in total, you scored higher than 96 percent of users who
took the test.
Deep Down
So what
does this mean about you?
Your relatively high score means that relative to others you're generally
more likely to confess your wrongdoings than other people are. Most
likely this is because when you've made a mistake in the past, you've
been treated with kindness. If you found out early on that it was
okay to mess up — the world won't end just because you did
something wrong — you learned an important lesson. Although
you may also have received heavy punishments at times, you appear
to have risen above any ill effect from them. By focusing on your
belief in fairness rather than your fear of punishment, you can act
with a high level of self-respect and integrity. Because not everyone
possesses this trait, it can make you a role model for those around
you, whether you recognize it or not. |
Value #3: Give to others before giving to yourself.
This value concerns the willingness to make sacrifices in order to
help others in need. Sometimes those sacrifices come in the form of
giving something to people, and other times they are represented by
losing something in order take care of someone else. Being high in this
value indicates a deep level of empathy for other people. It also involves
the ability to put others before yourself when they need assistance
and you're able to give it. Taken to extremes, Value #3 can lead to
codependent patterns in which one person is always giving and others
are always receiving from them. However, as long as the giver maintains
an awareness of their boundaries and their own needs, giving is typically
a good thing. So for this particular value, the ideal balance is somewhere
between the extremes of complete self-sacrifice and complete selfishness.
It involves giving when you can, but also recognizing when it is necessary
to withhold your help or resources.
As for questions that reflect this value, here is an example:
A friend calls you at 3 in the morning, feeling very depressed.
Your friend wants you to come over and talk. You have to work in the
morning. Would you go comfort your friend?
If you said, "Definitely comfort my friend," you're leaning
toward self-sacrifice for the good of another, and if you said, "Definitely
not comfort my friend," you're leaning toward self-protection because
either you can't afford to give the help or you do not perceive doing
so to be worth your while. Overall, your responses indicate that you're
stronger on this value than 88 percent of users who took the test.
Deep Down
Value #3 hits on
two very important issues: compassion for others and the value you
attribute to your own needs. In relation to others, your score is
high, which indicates that you are ordinarily very compassionate
and likely have trouble witnessing another person's pain without
jumping to their aid. In fact, your empathy may run so deep that
there are times when you overlook your own needs for the sake of
helping others. While in general this inclination is commendable,
try to make sure that you're taking care of yourself at least as
much as you're willing to take care of others. This way of thinking
might be challenging to you for a number of reasons. For example,
if while growing up you experienced situations that taught you if
you didn't take care of something, no one else would, you may have
developed an inflated sense of responsibility. Also, your early interactions
with others may have caused you to internalize the idea that your
needs aren't as important as those of the people around you are.
If this is the case, it's probably very hard for you to think about
putting yourself first. But realize that no matter what your prior
experiences tell you, you deserve to have your needs met as much
as anyone else. Know that you can act in ways that protect your own
sense of worth and still be a great support to those in need. |
Value #4: Do what you can to protect the environment.
Value #4 is relatively straightforward, and so are the questions we
asked about it. The higher you scored on this value, the more willing
you are to go out of your way to take care of the world around you.
Here's a sample question:
An environmentally-friendly brand of toilet paper is one and a
half times more expensive than the brand you usually get. Would you
spend the extra money to help the environment?
If you said "Definitely spend more for the brand," this
gives some indication that protecting the environment is a strong value
for you. By combining this response with the answers you gave to several
other questions, Emode's researchers determined that you are stronger
on this value than 75 percent of users who took the test.
Deep Down
Respect for the
earth indicates a love of life in general. However, being able to
appreciate nature and everything that comes from it can be difficult
in times when natural resources are primarily seen as a means to
an end. We rely on aspects of nature to heat our homes, run our cars,
and keep the economy moving — sometimes at the expense of plants,
animals, land, or other aspects of the environment. People who are
high in Value #4 tend to see nature's intrinsic value and long-term
importance and are willing to make personal sacrifices to help protect
it.
You scored high in this value, which indicates
that you'll typically to go out of your way to help the environment
more than many others will. Perhaps this is because you feel connected
to the earth and nature in a way that resonates with who you are.
On the other hand, you may just be of the opinion that careful use
of nature's resources is the best way to ensure humans' long-term
survival. Whatever compels you to act in ways that respect the world
around you, you should be proud of your positive efforts. |
Value #5: Respect legal authority.
If you see someone doing something wrong, you're not legally responsible
to turn them in. However, certain people — those with a high respect
for authority — would feel compelled to do so. In fact, people
who place a high value on authority are likely to find a wide variety
of legal violations disturbing and unacceptable. Value #5 reflects the
level to which you are willing to adhere to the law and see that others
do the same.
Here is one of the questions that measured Value #5:
If you found out that your brother was selling classified information
to another country, would you report him?
People who have a very high respect for authority would definitely
turn their brother in for doing something so obviously against the law.
People low in this value would not turn him in.
When examining one's respect for legal authority, the interpretation
of low scores really depends on your perspective. For example, on the
one hand not turning someone in to the authorities could be interpreted
as a sign of your respect for that person and your relationship. On
the other hand, it could also be indicative of your disrespect for the
law.
Emode's research team has found that some people who score low on
Value #5 believe firmly in staying out of other people's business. As
a result, they don't feel that it's their responsibility to report individuals
who violate the law. In addition, depending on the social-political
climate, people may be more or less likely to turn others in. In times
of war, for instance, when fear levels are high and so are suspicions,
a person who would normally not turn someone into authorities may elect
to do so.
Based on your responses, you are presently higher in this value than
96 percent of users who took the test.
Deep Down
People like you,
who are relatively high in this value, often set lofty standards
for the people around them, be they strangers or close relations.
As a result you may find that your allegiances usually lie with the
people who enforce laws, rather with anyone who would break them
— regardless of how close the person is to you or their reason
for doing so. If you feel a stronger tie to the laws of the land
than to the bonds of family or friendship, take a moment to consider
why that might be the case. Have your experiences led you to believe
that wrongdoing is generally underreported and that people get away
with breaking the law too often? If so, you might be trying to settle
the score. Another possibility is that you were taught during childhood
that the police and the legal system could always be counted on to
see that justice prevailed. If this is your view, by acting with
propriety and expecting that others do the same, you could simply
be trying to create a consistent sense of fairness in your life.
Just make sure that when you're judging people yourself, you look
closely at the facts in each occurrence, realizing that no situation
is black and white. |
Value #6: Protect the vulnerable.
At some point in our lives, we find ourselves in situations where
we have the upper hand over someone else because we have more information
than they do or have information they don't know we have. Having this
upper hand would allow us to violate their rights, or invade their privacy,
but how we use this power depends on how we feel about Value #6.
Value #6 captures how to typically react to being in a position of
power. Scoring high on this dimension means that you feel strongly about
protecting those who are vulnerable. It also means that you don't typically
take advantage when you're in a position of power. Compared to others,
you scored relatively high on this value. Your answers indicate that
you scored higher than 51 percent of users who took the test.
The following question is one that Emode's researchers used to evaluate
your particular tendencies:
Your next-door neighbor asked you to water their plants while
they were on vacation. Would you snoop just a little while you were
looking in on their plants?
People high in Value #6 would not snoop even a little. They would
simply water the plants and leave, regardless of any temptation they
may feel.
Deep Down
Remember the old
adage "curiosity killed the cat?" It's an expression about
the dangers of violating others' privacy. Yet most of us have done
just that at one time or another. Usually when a person is willing
to violate someone else's rights or privacy, it's because the same
was done to them at some point. Ultimately such violations are about
breaking the bond of trust, and when people have experienced this
in life themselves they're more likely to do it to others. Although
such actions can have detrimental effects on both parties involved,
it's interesting to note that they usually aren't coming from a desire
to hurt anyone. Instead they're typically based on a compulsion to
know something or to look behind closed doors. By thinking about
times in your life when others may have violated your right to privacy,
you can enhance your feelings of empathy for others' boundaries.
Has anyone ever looked into your journal or personal letters or listened
in on one of your phone calls? If so, you likely remember how embarrassing
and upsetting it can be. Think about those feelings the next time
you're tempted to overstep your bounds into someone else's private
matters. |
Value #7: Honor your commitments.
Value #7 is about telling the truth when you're faced with having
to say something difficult. It also concerns taking responsibility for
commitments you've made. In general, this value represents having a
sense of honor. Here's one question Emode used to test you on this trait.
You realize that you gave somebody the wrong directions. They've
walked a block in the wrong direction. Would you run to catch up with
them and give them better directions?
If you said that you would "definitely run to catch them,"
you scored more highly on this value than if you didn't. Using your
response to this question along with several others, Emode's researchers
determined that you scored higher on Value #7 than 65 percent of people
who took the test.
Deep Down
When it comes down
to it, you seem to be one of those people who believes in maintaining
your sense of integrity. Whether this means telling the truth in
a tough situation or following though on whatever you say you'll
do, you appear to feel strongly about walking your talk. If you've
ever been in situations where you've been forced to lie in order
to keep the peace or protect someone's feelings, you probably didn't
like it very much. Although you likely know it's important to be
sensitive, even telling little white lies might rub you the wrong
way because they feel dishonest. The strength of your honor may be
founded on the idea that what goes around comes around. If so, you
may act the way you do in the hopes that others will reciprocate.
It also may simply be founded on a belief that being honest and true
to your word is its own reward. Either way, you can take pride in
your personal strength as something others can admire. |
Value #8: Be forgiving.
You are more forgiving than 13 percent of people who took the test.
Typically, it's beneficial to practice forgiveness toward both yourself
and others. Beating yourself up for the things you've done wrong or
refusing to pardon others' slip-ups usually only makes matters worse.
In fact, allowing yourself to become stuck in feelings of anger or blame
can even have detrimental psychological and physical effects on you.
That said, Value #8 is another value in which it's important to maintain
a balanced perspective. If one is too quick to forgive others or offers
forgiveness regardless of the merits of the situation, they can end
up feeling like a doormat. It's important to let others own up to their
own behaviors and to remember that you don't have to make up for their
problems.
When someone is repetitively hurtful or purposefully makes your life
difficult for some reason, you may want to forgive but not forget. You
can acknowledge and retain the memory of the person's wrongdoing, but
let it go in your heart so that you don't have to live with the toxic
feelings of anger and blame. This is not to suggest that those feelings
are never useful. On the contrary, some people feel that expressing
anger is very healthy. This particular advice deals more with the long
term to keep you from the potential ill effects of holding on to anger
and blame.
Value #8 was measured on our test through questions such as this one:
Your partner cheated on you. Would you leave him/her?
Those who said that they would definitely leave were lower on the
forgiveness scale than those who said that they would not leave. Although
leaving a partner who cheated may be justified in most cases, the deeper
issue here is about forgiveness.
Deep Down
You may have a
tendency to see events in black and white, believing that either
things are right, or they're wrong. Although this kind of simplicity
can be handy at times, on other occasions you may miss the subtleties
that create a more complete view of reality. By being quick to judge
situations and people, you risk missing critical information that
may make you more sympathetic. This is not to say that you are wrong
for being less forgiving; it is just to say that you might be missing
out on some of life's many layers and complexities by having such
strong views. In the past you may have faced a difficult dilemma
when you need to clearly separate good from bad to make sense of
it. However carrying that kind of approach to all situations might
not serve you well. In being willing to look at all aspects of a
situation in context, you may still come to the same conclusion,
but you can do so knowing that you have truly examined the evidence
and potential causes. |
|
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de Test Results
