Values are qualities or beliefs that are viewed as desirable or important. They are outcomes of socialization and provide the framework in which we think, feel, and act.

An attitude is a tendency to respond positively or negatively to certain persons, objects, or situations. Attitudes are composed of beliefs, feelings, and action tendencies.

The development of attitudes is influenced by age, cognitive development, and social experiences.

The media, the community, and the school have the potential to change prejudicial and stereotypical attitudes toward diversity.

Individuals are motivated to control the outcomes of their efforts. This motivation is exhibited in the need to achieve, or be competent, called achievement motivation or mastery orientation.

Locus of Control relates to one's sense of personal responsibility. Individuals who believe they are in control of their world have an internal locus of control. Individuals who perceive that others or outside events have more control over them than they have over themselves have an external locus of control.

Self-Efficacy refers to the belief that one can master situation and produce positive outcomes. It is a performance-based measure of perceived capability. It is related to achievement motivation, locus of ness, and learned helplessness.

Self-Esteem, the value one places on one's self-concept, is derived from the reflected appraisal of others. Specific dimensions of self-esteem in European American society include scholastic competence, athletic competence, social competence, physical appearance, and behavioral conduct, as well as global self-worth. Diverse cultures differ in the emphasis put on these dimensions.

The factors contributing to the development of self-esteem are the amount of respectful, accepting, and concerned treatment individuals receive from significant others; their history of successes and failures; their status among peers; and their manner of responding to failure.