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Benevolence
Caring for those close — the well-being of people near you.
People who prioritize benevolence value preserving and enhancing the well-being of the people close to them, their everyday circle.
What benevolence is
The motivational goal of benevolence is preserving and enhancing the well-being of people you're in frequent contact with — family, friends, the close group. Schwartz links it to the need for cooperation and positive affiliative relationships. It is the value of those who care for, help and are loyal to their own, and find meaning in being a reliable presence for those they love.
When it's a high priority
- Caring for the people close to you is a real priority
- Loyalty, help and honesty guide your relationships
- You're willing to give of yourself for the well-being of those you love
- Keeping strong, trusting bonds matters a lot
When it's in the background
- You give less weight to constant care for those close by
- You prioritize other goals ahead of the group's well-being
- You lean toward self-sufficiency more than interdependence
- Giving and loyalty aren't at the top of your choices
Don't mix these up · cross them in your Atlas
Benevolence is a principle: caring for the well-being of those close to you is something you hold to be right. Different from enjoying togetherness (the driver Connection, energy), from being able to read emotions (the skill Empathy), and from the trait of being kind (Agreeableness). Valuing care isn't the same as being naturally warm — see both in your Atlas.
How benevolence shows up in your life
At work and in your career
It shines in collaborative, caring environments — health, education, support, tight-knit teams. It values trust and loyalty. It pairs with universalism and conformity (its neighbors in the circle) and competes with power and achievement, on the self-transcendence × self-enhancement axis.
In relationships
It's the heart of relationships: loyal, generous and present. The risk is erasing yourself while caring for others. Growth comes from counting your own needs in — caring for yourself so you can keep caring.
In everyday decisions
Day to day, you're attentive to who needs help, you lend a hand and you keep the bonds alive. Be careful about overload and about saying yes when you'd need a no.
Tensions and growth
Benevolence is compatible with universalism and conformity and competes with power and achievement (Self-Enhancement). It is a pole of self-transcendence. Growth here is caring for your own without forgetting yourself.
People and settings where this shines ILLUSTRATIVE
Caregivers, educators, volunteers and anyone who sustains the well-being of those nearby.
Which values guide you?
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Frequently asked questions
Can I value opposite things at the same time?
Partly. In Schwartz's circle, opposite values compete with each other — prioritizing one strongly tends to leave its opposite in the background. You can shift with context, but you rarely live both poles at their peak at once.
Do my values change over time?
Yes. Value priorities are relatively stable, but they reorganize with life stage, experiences and context. Treat the result as a snapshot of what guides you today, not a fixed label.
Is having benevolence as a low value bad?
No. Prioritizing some values naturally places others in the background — it's a choice of emphasis, not a flaw. A low value only means it guides your choices less right now.