Skip to content

Value words and the trade-offs between them

Even Over uses 83 value words from a public-domain card sort. Each page says what a word means, where it sits on Even Over’s map of values, and which values it can pull against. The map groups the words by area; which word goes where is our own call, and the method page says where the areas come from.

Pairs that can pull against each other

All 83 words, by area of the map

Security–personal

Feeling safe where you live and in your daily life.

Self-direction–thought

Thinking for yourself and developing your own ideas and abilities.

Achievement

Succeeding by the standards other people recognise.

Stimulation

Variety and new experiences that keep life exciting.

Face

Keeping your standing in other people's eyes and avoiding embarrassment.

Power–dominance

Having influence over what other people do.

Self-direction–action

Choosing for yourself what you do.

Universalism–nature

Protecting the natural world.

Benevolence–caring

Looking after the wellbeing of the people close to you.

Hedonism

Seeking pleasure and enjoyment for yourself.

Benevolence–dependability

Being someone the people close to you can rely on.

Universalism–concern

Equal treatment, justice and protection for everyone.

Conformity–interpersonal

Taking care not to upset or hurt other people.

Conformity–rules

Following rules, laws and formal duties.

Tradition

Keeping up the customs of your culture, family or faith.

Humility

Seeing yourself as a small part of something much larger.

Security–societal

A safe, stable and orderly wider society.

Universalism–tolerance

Accepting and understanding people who differ from you.

Power–resources

Controlling money, possessions and other resources.

Find your own order

These pages describe the words. Which ones come first for you is a different question. You sort 83 value words, then choose between your top ten two at a time, and the order comes from your own choices.

Start sorting

About 12 minutes. No account or email to start.