PSYCHOLOGICAL MEANING OF VALUES IN STUDENTS FROM A UNIVERSITY OF VERACRUZ, MEXICO

摘要

Researchers such as Escamez, 2003; Figueroa, 2000; Grass, 2001; Pereira (2007); Pereira, 2003; Raths, 1967; Ratzlaff, 2000 and the Mexican Association of Psychology, 1998; suggest the educators' responsibility of knowing their students' values so as to contribute effectively to strengthen them. The objective was to learn about the psychological meaning university students have concerning their values, by using the qualitative technique of semantic networks. The sample comes from 100 Psychology students: 63 women and 37 men; from 19 to 25 years old; from a middle socio-economic level; instrument validated with a sample of 300 university students. The results refer to the analysis of the defining words from both shifts; honesty (100%) is the main word which defines their values. The results coincide with proposals made by Arias, 2000; Diaz Barriga, 2000; Ratzlaff, 2000; Valdez, 2000; Schmelkes, 1996. They proposed personal growth through values, completely aware of respect and tolerance concepts, which are reflected in an ethical, honest and integral behavior in the presence of professional commitment to be practiced.