Value Conflicts and Value Priorities: It’s Not Just About Religion

Abstract

Social work ethics and values are the cornerstone of the profession and guide social work practice, education, and policy. Little research has examined the experience of conflict between personal values and professional ethics, or the beliefs of social workers about the prioritization of values within practice. This study explores whether social workers experience conflict between religious values and professional ethics and beliefs about the prioritization of religious values and professional roles. Overall participants reported little experience of value conflict and agreed that professional values supersede religious ones. The interaction of religiosity, political beliefs, primary work function, and sex are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• professional ethics
• value conflicts
• professional socialization
• social work practice