This article presents a new typology of basic values, based on human needs. Such values were theorized to represent three criteria of orientation, each one divided in two psychosocial functions: personal (experiential and promotion), central (preservation and supra-personal), and social (interactional and normative). Data were obtained from two diverse samples (N = 606). This typology was tested regarding to: (1) internal structure - a multidimensional scaling (MDS) permitted viewing these three criteria of orientation, and a confirmatory factor analysis proved their corresponding psychosocial functions; (2) convergence to Schwartz' theory - a MDS showed that the six psychosocial functions and the ten motivational types of values appeared in different spatial regions, but they were interpreted in the same terms; and (3) prediction of religiosity degree - consistently, this variable was positively and negatively correlated with normative and experiential values, respectively. In brief, this typology was not incompatible with Schwartz' theory, and supports the motivational nature of human values. However, it is more parsimonious, assuming a reduced set of basic values.
basic values; motivation; needs; religiosity
