Anti-values, although little known, are one of the most important components of morality. Or rather, of immorality. Although we usually talk about the ethics behind our actions, emphasizing what should be done, focusing on the positive (or the absence of it), it is also important to bear in mind that there are values that lead us to act badly.

In this article we’ll see what anti-values are, with their types and examples , and why they are related to the immoral.

What are anti-values?

Antivalues are personal values that, put into perspective, can be recognized as harmful beliefs and ideals that cause suffering to the individual or to the rest of society.

Thus, these are predispositions to conduct conduct that is harmful to the individual or to society

Types of anti-values

Antivalues can be of 4 different types : self-destructive, individualistic, anti-egalitarian and destructive.

Self-destructive

These anti-values are characterized by leading us to perform acts that are destructive to ourselves. For example, self-harm or substance abuse in order to p produce damage in one’s own body .

Individualists

These anti-values create a moral barrier that creates a separation between oneself and others, so that one’s own well-being is systematically prioritized in all areas and no matter how insignificant the privilege one chooses.

Anti-Equality

These are anti-values that create moral separations between population groups that are not defined by the moral facet of their behaviour. For example, the groups “serial killers” and “civilian population” are separated by a moral distinction, but not “rich people” and “poor people”.

Destructive

In this category are the anti-values that lead to widespread destructive acts , such as against the environment.

Examples

Below you can see several examples of anti-values, and why they are harmful.

1. Racism

Racism leads us to segregate people on the basis of arbitrary characteristics which, moreover, have nothing to do with the morality of their members. Moreover, these groups are artificial, since there is no scientific criterion to detect white or black people, etc.

On the other hand, attempts to link physical and cultural characteristics that are associated with non-white communities because of stereotypes have totally failed. There is nothing to indicate that a person whose skin is lighter is more likely to behave in a more correct way than one with dark skin.

2. Sexism

The idea that people should conform to the traditional gender roles assigned to them at birth based on their physical characteristics is also a widespread anti-value . The reason for this is that there is simply no reason why people, whether they are men or women, should conform to these patterns of behaviour, tastes, hobbies and preferences etc.

3. Homophobia

The idea that homosexuality is unnatural, or that people who do not belong to the category of heterosexuality should have fewer rights is a clear form of oppression of a collective. Oppression that in the best of cases takes the form of mockery , less price and unequal access to opportunities, and in the worst, to physical aggressions, murders or even public executions, depending on the cultural context.

4. Religious fundamentalism

Religious fanaticism is also an anti-value, since leads to violating the rights of others simply because of beliefs that one has decided to internalize without ever questioning them.

5. Exploitation

The idea that people in a privileged position can exploit the most disadvantaged is another example of anti-value that, in day-to-day practice, is often justified by using competitiveness, meritocracy or even self-improvement as an excuse. When the precariousness of people is very pronounced, they do not have the necessary freedom to choose between worthy options.

6. Selfishness

The quintessential anti-value is selfishness, which is often the main root of bad behavior. The search for one’s own pleasure by depriving others of it or even by inflicting pain on others is a habit that generates discomfort or even real crimes , sometimes.

7. Envy

Hating people who are perceived as better than oneself is a way of discharging the discomfort that generates this feeling of inferiority by making someone else pay for it . Therefore, envy is an anti-value.

8. Trivialization

Equating ideas or values with a very different moral burden makes the more positive one seem more negative on the one hand, and the more negative one excused on the other. For example, pointing out that a democratic political collective is comparable to Nazism on the basis of certain elements of its aesthetics or its claiming style makes the killing of millions of people seem to be on the same moral plane as, for example, a stridency in a demonstration or in a political speech.