What are terminal values focused on?

Terminal values are primarily focused on the ultimate goals that individuals strive to achieve in their lives. These values represent the end states of existence that people consider most important, such as happiness, freedom, success, or social justice. They guide behavior and decision-making processes by establishing a framework for what one deeply values and aspires to attain.

Understanding terminal values is crucial in fields like social work, counseling, and criminal justice, as they can influence an individual's motivation, commitment, and overall approach to life. Recognizing someone’s terminal values can help professionals in these fields tailor their support and interventions to align with those fundamental aspirations, thereby facilitating more meaningful engagement and progress.

Other options, while related to values or goals, do not encapsulate the definition of terminal values. They center more on the processes or judgments involved in reaching these goals rather than the goals themselves. For instance, methods to achieve goals and strategies for behavior compliance are about the actions taken rather than the ultimate destinations one strives for, while judgments about one's actions refer to the evaluation of those actions rather than the underlying values driving them.