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<p>Among the social professions, social work interacts with particularly vulnerable groups. At the same time, social and political influence are part of the discipline’s self-image. Both of these presuppose corresponding values, which go beyond individual attitudes and motives. Yet there has been little research on these values, although (inter)national studies reveal altruistic motivations for career choices, which at least indicates a&#xa0;certain underlying mindset. This article examines the extent to which such value orientations exist and how social work differs from other professions in this regard, based on data from the European Social Survey (2002 to 2010; 2012 to 2023) using the Human Values Scale by Shalom Schwartz, which aggregates 19&#xa0;questions on 9&#xa0;values and 4&#xa0;higher-order values. Among the 18&#xa0;professions analysed, social workers (<i>n</i> = 151) show the highest scores for the higher order values self-transcendence (values: humanism, universalism) and openness to change (self-determination, stimulation) whilst having the lowest scores for preserving the status quo (security, conformity, tradition). Moreover, the distance to other professions in the older age group is even more pronounced in terms of self-transcendence and openness to change than among the younger age group. Consequently, social work possess basic values that correspond to their self-image and are particularly beneficial when dealing with vulnerable groups. The below-average expression of power and performance values combined with a&#xa0;high degree of self-transcendence offers one explanation for the tension between individual case reference and the frequently noted gap advocacy and policy practice at the macro level.</p>

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Selbst-Transzendenz und Offenheit für Wandel

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年4月22日

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  • Jürgen Bauknecht,
  • Jan A. Velimsky

摘要

Among the social professions, social work interacts with particularly vulnerable groups. At the same time, social and political influence are part of the discipline’s self-image. Both of these presuppose corresponding values, which go beyond individual attitudes and motives. Yet there has been little research on these values, although (inter)national studies reveal altruistic motivations for career choices, which at least indicates a certain underlying mindset. This article examines the extent to which such value orientations exist and how social work differs from other professions in this regard, based on data from the European Social Survey (2002 to 2010; 2012 to 2023) using the Human Values Scale by Shalom Schwartz, which aggregates 19 questions on 9 values and 4 higher-order values. Among the 18 professions analysed, social workers (n = 151) show the highest scores for the higher order values self-transcendence (values: humanism, universalism) and openness to change (self-determination, stimulation) whilst having the lowest scores for preserving the status quo (security, conformity, tradition). Moreover, the distance to other professions in the older age group is even more pronounced in terms of self-transcendence and openness to change than among the younger age group. Consequently, social work possess basic values that correspond to their self-image and are particularly beneficial when dealing with vulnerable groups. The below-average expression of power and performance values combined with a high degree of self-transcendence offers one explanation for the tension between individual case reference and the frequently noted gap advocacy and policy practice at the macro level.