2.3 Give examples of how personal values and attitudes can influence perceptions of: • different situations • individuals’ capacity

This guide will help you answer 2.3 Give examples of how personal values and attitudes can influence perceptions of: • different situations • individuals’ capacity.

Personal values and attitudes significantly influence how individuals perceive situations and the capacity of others. Values refer to beliefs or principles guiding behaviour, while attitudes are feelings, thoughts, or opinions about someone or something. These aspects form over time based on experiences, upbringing, culture, and social interactions. As a care worker, understanding how your own values and attitudes affect your perception is vital to provide unbiased and person-centred care.

How Personal Values Affect Perception of Different Situations

A care worker’s values can shape how they interpret and react to various situations. Bias, assumptions, or emotional responses may affect their decision-making and interactions with service users. Below are examples demonstrating how personal values can influence perceptions in specific situations.

Emergency Situations

If a care worker values independence, they may view an older person who calls for assistance in a minor emergency as overly reliant. This could lead to feelings of frustration or impatience. Conversely, a care worker who values compassion might see the same situation as an opportunity to support the individual and reassure them.

Cultural Practices

Personal values regarding religion or cultural norms can affect how care workers perceive certain practices. For example, fasting might seem unnecessary or harmful to someone who does not share the same belief system. Without empathy and acceptance, the care worker could unintentionally judge the situation, impacting the quality of care provided.

Lifestyle Choices

Care workers may hold values about health and lifestyle that influence their perception of situations involving smoking, alcohol consumption, or diet. A worker who prioritises healthy living may judge individuals engaging in these behaviours, seeing them as irresponsible, even if the behaviour poses no immediate issue in the care context.

How Attitudes Shape Reactions to Situations

Attitudes, which are more emotional or situation-specific than values, can also lead care workers to react differently. Attitudes can include prejudices, stereotypes, or conditioned feelings toward particular groups or scenarios.

Working Under Pressure

A positive attitude towards teamwork might make a care worker proactive and supportive during a staffing shortage. In contrast, a negative attitude towards stress might lead them to perceive the situation as unmanageable, creating conflict with colleagues.

Complex Personalities

An individual’s attitude to certain personality traits, like assertiveness, shyness, or anger, can affect how they perceive situations with service users or colleagues. For instance, a care worker who dislikes direct communication might view a straightforward service user as rude, affecting their ability to support the individual properly.

How Personal Values and Attitudes Influence Perception of Individuals’ Capacity

Values and attitudes do not just shape reactions to situations; they influence perceptions of an individual’s abilities and potential. This can affect the way care workers assess needs and deliver support.

Physical Limitations

A care worker with values centred on hard work may struggle to empathise with an individual who has limited mobility. They might perceive the person as lazy, rather than recognising genuine physical barriers. This could lead to insufficient encouragement or failure to provide adaptive support.

Mental Health

Attitudes towards mental illness can deeply affect perceptions of an individual’s capacity. A care worker with a stigma against certain conditions, such as depression or anxiety, might question the person’s ability to achieve independence or participate in daily activities. This can undermine the individual’s self-belief.

Learning Disabilities

Values that prioritise intellect might lead to biased judgements against those with learning disabilities. A care worker could underestimate their abilities, failing to consider the support or adjustments required for the individual to reach their potential.

Addressing Personal Biases

To work effectively in care, professionals need to recognise and address their own biases. Tools such as reflective practice, supervision, and training can help care workers identify how their values and attitudes affect perceptions. Here are some actions care workers can take:

• Reflect on emotional triggers and assumptions in their daily actions.
• Seek feedback from colleagues or supervisors.
• Engage in cultural awareness or bias-reducing training.
• Practise empathy by putting themselves in others’ positions.

Positive and Negative Outcomes of Values and Attitudes

Personal values and attitudes can create both positive and negative outcomes. By understanding their influence, care workers can aim to enhance positive effects and minimise negatives.

Positive Outcomes

When values and attitudes align with a person-centred approach, they can contribute to high-quality care. For example:

• Empathy: A value of compassion helps workers connect emotionally and respect service users’ journeys.
• Fairness: A value of equality ensures every individual receives impartial care.
• Encouragement: A positive attitude inspires people to reach higher levels of independence and confidence.

Negative Outcomes

Unexamined values and attitudes can lead to discrimination, prejudice, or poor practice. Some potential issues include:

• Judgement: Assuming someone’s abilities based on stereotypes could limit their opportunities.
• Frustration: A lack of patience could result in rushed or inattentive care.
• Exclusion: Personal opinions might lead to certain people or practices being dismissed or ignored.

Cultural and Social Influences

Cultural and social factors shape a person’s values and attitudes, which in turn influence perceptions. Care workers should explore these influences to better understand and manage their own belief systems.

Cultural Beliefs

Growing up in a specific cultural environment teaches people what is “normal.” For example:

• A culture valuing collectivism might create suspicion of individualistic behaviours.
• A religious upbringing might shape attitudes against alcohol or certain foods.

Care workers need to build cultural competency to avoid biased perceptions of service users with differing beliefs.

Family and Social Norms

Early family experiences can deeply embed values into care workers. For instance:

• A family valuing hard work may lead to judgments against those who use welfare programmes.
• A socially affluent environment may create prejudice against service users from low-income backgrounds.

Understanding family influence allows care workers to challenge deep-seated biases.

Practical Strategies for Change

To minimise the impact of personal values and attitudes, care workers can adopt strategies promoting neutrality, evidence-based practice, and person-centred care. Some steps include:

• Listen openly: Focus on the individual’s experience rather than preconceived notions.
• Avoid assumptions: Base decisions on facts rather than stereotypes or guesses.
• Ask questions: Gain a fuller understanding of each person’s situation and preferences.

Regulatory and Ethical Considerations

The Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), Care Quality Commission (CQC), and Code of Conduct for Healthcare Support Workers set clear expectations for managing biases. Every worker has a duty to ensure their professional values override personal perspectives.

Upholding Dignity

Care workers must respect individual autonomy and diverse beliefs. Perceptions based on personal values should never reduce someone’s dignity or compromise their care.

Promoting Equality

Equality Act 2010 states that discrimination on grounds such as religion, disability, or gender is unlawful. Care workers should actively work against biased perceptions shaped by personal attitudes.

Final Thoughts

Personal values and attitudes are an integral part of being human, but they can impact care delivery if left unchecked. Care workers should continuously assess their reactions to situations and individuals’ capacities. By implementing professional, ethical standards and building awareness of cultural and social factors, they can ensure their perceptions support unbiased and person-centred care.