The writings under discussion here are sound, well-researched hypotheses on how our brains process information and convert that information into the choices that represent our values and preferences.  This was pretty heady stuff to read, so I've attempted to uncomplicate it as much as possible (hopefully not losing the authors' message) by making it understandable to myself.

My focus throughout, however, is to build an understanding of some widely accepted concepts that will bring me closer to understanding what values we as individuals hold on to and how we might go about  influencing our abilities to improve and live according to our chosen ideals.

 

	This section, by no stretch of the imagination, covers Dr. Daniel's work in the area of values and preferences.  It is, however, a very concise, stimulating discussion of the ideas to be considered in thinking about values and preferences.    . . . more . . .
	Links that relate to Daniel's  work:   University of Arizona Faculty

 

	My pressing question is to understand value's role in the behavior of people.  Economists Sinden & Worrell provide an essential economists view for understanding values that can also be applied to the non-material.  They make the point that the value of a thing is only reflected in the process of exchange.  For example, the value of an item is not what you pay for it;  value is not equal to price.  Instead, the value of an item is what you could possibly get for it under varying  circumstances.   . . . more . . .
	Links that relate to Sinden & Worrel's  work:  Costs and Cost Trends for     Forestry Practices in the     South  Handbook of Environmental     Evaluation

Daryl Bem points out that how we believe what we believe can be difficult to extract from our thinking.  Holding a belief means that you perceive a relationship between two things or between something and its characteristics.  Bem talks about our "primitive beliefs," and he says that every belief we have can ultimately be dissected to the point where the information will rest on "a basic belief in the credibility of one's own sensory experience or upon a basic belief in the credibility of some external authority."   . . . more . . .

Links that relate to Bem's  work:   Daryl Bem's Website  Journals that publish theory      and research articles about     personality

Tesser & Martin define evaluation as "a positive or negative response to some person, idea, or thing that can manifest itself in affect, cognition or behavior."  Simply said, evaluative judgments are those that define for us whether we like or don't like something.  . . . more . . .

Links that relate to Tesser & Martin's  work:    Ruminative thoughts: Advances     in Social Cognition  Striving and feeling:  Interactions      Among Goals, Affect, and      Self-Regulation Links that relate to Tooby & Cosmides' work:  Evolutionary Psychology:  A Primer  The Evolution of Despair  Our Emotions:  Why we feel the     way we do  Leda Cosmides  The Center for Evolutionary      Psychology  Human Behavior and Evolution      Society Links that relate to Margie Profet's work:  Is Nausea in Pregnancy Nature's       Way of  Protecting The Fetus      From Toxins  1994 Interview