EAI
BLENDED CATEGORIES
Ethics Awareness Inventory - Gain New Insight Into Your Ethical Perspective
C-O-R-E Categories:
C – CHARACTER
O – OBLIGATION
R – RESULTS
E – EQUITY
Ethical Beliefs in Multiple Categories
It is possible to have ethical beliefs that are represented in more than one category. Most individuals
agree with at least some characteristics in all four categories, and the relationship between these
categories form your unique ethical style. Therefore, these categories should be viewed as broad
descriptions of typical patterns. The purpose of the Ethics Awareness Inventory is to strengthen your
understanding of your own belief system. The idea of blended categories takes your Awareness a step
further.
If your second largest positive score is within one or two points of your largest, you will want to consider
the compatibility of the two scores. You may want to consider whether (a) you are experiencing an
internal conflict in attempting to function in two distinguishable moral environments, or (b) your ethical
style is simply a unique blend of two categories. For example, a blended C and O (within one or two
points of each other) is likely to support the idea that ethical principles without goodness are powerless
and goodness without some standards or principles of right and wrong is ineffective. The two
categories can be supportive of one another. However, a blended O and R may reflect some internal
conflicts between a feeling of moral obligation to individuals, on the one hand, while attempting to
produce specific results for some group or organization on the other. A careful examination of these
blended categories to identify possible internal conflicts is recommended.
External Conflicts May Influence Your Beliefs
If your Ethics Awareness Profile reflects blended categories, you may also want to consider whether
you are being challenged by situations in which people are asking you to do things that conflict with
your personal ethical beliefs. You may feel pressured in some situations to reject your own standards of
right and wrong, causing a feeling of internal conflict. Until you are able to explain your sincere beliefs
and consistently act in accordance with those beliefs without compromise, you will continue to
experience internal moral conflict. This will create discomfort for you, and it will be difficult to make
ethical decisions that you can stand behind.
Keep in mind that these descriptive categories represent only four recognized categories of ethical
philosophy and theory. Other schools of thought may be more closely related to your ethical belief
system. However, these common descriptions should provide insight into some of the significant
differences of opinion that may arise when you are trying to reach an ethical decision, especially when
working with others. A better understanding of the conflicts that arise between you and others regarding
what is the right thing to do will be helpful. Hopefully, you will be encouraged to explore other
resources and try to understand different ethical styles. Awareness of your ethical perspective is the
first step toward making ethics a central part of your daily life and developing a better working
relationship with others.
For more information on The Williams Institute:
www.ethics-twi.org
info@ethics-twi.org
480-517-1891