System of values of the Serbian Armed Forces' members in the context of social reform

The interest in studying the values within social sciences, especially in the domain of psychology, has a great theoretical and practical significance. One reason is their relative stability, which enables better predictions of future human behavior and social tendencies than based on the knowledge of other dispositions and personality features. The ongoing socio-political and economic reform of our society, including the reforms that the Serbian Armed Forces have undergone, undoubtedly leave trace in the system of values; therefore, the study of values is an ongoing social and cognitive issue that requires a scientific answer. Following the changes in the society and the reforms the Serbian Armed Forces had undergone, an extensive research was carried out in the period from 2006 to 2008, which, among other things, focused on two main issues: What is the existing structure of values and what values the members of the Serbian Armed Forces attach the greatest importance to, in the situation of the ongoing reform of the Armed Forces and the transition of the country. Has there been, and in what way, any change of the system of values of the Serbian Armed Forces' members, resulting from the ongoing social, political, security and other circumstances and changes in the society, as compared to the period immediately preceding the commencement of the reform process. The research was a field exploratory study, based on a cross-sectional model. The analysis of data, in addition to the correlation and multivariate analysis, included a qualitative descriptive and statistical comparative analysis. The research was conducted in a suitable sample of examinees, which included about 10% of the Serbian Armed Forces' professional members. A set of independent variables was related to certain personality features, as well as to socio-demographic characteristics, while a set of dependent variables was related to a system of values (31 singular values). The following instruments were used in research of independent variables: Eysenck Questionnaire A, C, BESK and EPQ Personality Test, as well as a test for studying the self-concept dimensions (Genself-40), whereas a specially designed questionnaire was used for research of socio-demographic characteristics. A list of 31 values that was applied in earlier value system researches in the military environment was used for research of dependent variables, i.e. the value system. This paper presents only a part of results relating to the structure and changes in the value system of the Serbian Armed Forces' members. The research has shown that when it comes to preferences of the tested values manifestations, social values dominate: family, justice, honor, self-respect, national security, education, human rights, responsibility, happiness and economic prosperity of the country. The structure of the tested manifest values (31 values) can be explained through a small number of latent values (5 factors): 1. rational-humanist value orientation, 2. freedom-loving spirit and patriotism, 3. success and family safety, 4. religiousness and traditionalism, 5. cultural hedonism vs familyties. When it comes to the direction of change, the research has shown that there is a tendency of general values, such as humanism and patriotism, to remain stable over time, indicating that these are terminal values. These values are highly ranked and accepted by most of the examinees in this research, indicating a positive humanistic and patriotic value profile of the Armed Forces members.