What term refers to a principle to which a person attaches great value and which gives direction?

• A. Values
• B. Beliefs
• C. Ethics
• D. Attitudes

Answer: (A)

Values are the guiding principles a person holds about what matters most, and they give direction to decisions and actions. They shape how you prioritize goals, how you treat others, and how you respond when choices are difficult. Values tend to be deeply held and relatively stable, growing from family, culture, experiences, and reflection, so they act like a personal compass across different situations.

Beliefs are about what you think is true or real; they influence your understanding of the world but don’t necessarily specify how you should act. Ethics describe shared standards of right and wrong within a group or profession, providing external guidelines rather than the individual compass. Attitudes are evaluations or feelings toward something, which can affect behavior but aren’t the enduring, value-based direction that guides a person’s life.