Personal ethics
As with beliefs and values, personal ethics can differ widely from person to person.
As mentioned already, beliefs and values often motivate a person by defining what they see as being important. In turn, they influence a person’s attitudes, and how they behave.
Note
Ethical expectations constrain a person’s behaviour by providing expectations on how to behave. In other words, personal ethics are standards by which a person judges behaviour as being ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.
Ethical expectations often take the form of principles such as:
- concern for the well-being of others
- respect for others
- trustworthiness and honesty
- compliance with the law
- preventing harm to others.