Behavioral Definition of Values

Definition

“Values are freely chosen, verbally constructed consequences of ongoing, dynamic, evolving patterns of activity, which establish predominant reinforcers for that activity that are intrinsic in engagement in the valued behavioral pattern itself.”

Explanation

• Values are Freely Chosen: Instead of being subject to the “weather” of your current emotions or thoughts, you act as the architect of your own behavior by choosing a direction that is not coerced by external pressure or fleeting internal moods.
• Values are Verbally Constructed: Through the power of language, you create a “why” that is strong enough to sustain you in environments where there are no immediate physical rewards, allowing you to find profound meaning in even the most difficult circumstances.
• Values are Ongoing Patterns of Activity: A value is not a destination or a “goal” that you can check off a list; it is a continuous quality of action that is abstracted from the ongoing stream of your life, much like a compass heading that you can follow but never “arrive” at.
• Values are Dynamic and Evolving: The specific behaviors that satisfy a value must adapt as you grow, meaning that the way you express “care” or “excellence” will look radically different at age twenty than it will at age sixty.
• Values Establish Predominant Reinforcers: By naming and committing to a value, you actually transform the nature of your reality, making previously “boring” or “hard” tasks feel rewarding simply because they have been framed as part of your larger chosen purpose.
• Values are Intrinsic in Engagement: The ultimate reward of a value is not found in an external result or a trophy at the end of the road, but is found entirely within the moment-to-moment experience of actually acting out that value.

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Reference: Reddit - r/acceptancecommitment