@inproceedings{hyland-etal-2026-exploring,
title = "Exploring the Manifestation of {S}chwartz{'}s Basic Human Values in Large Language Models",
author = "Hyland, Ryan and
Newsham, Lewis and
Prince, Daniel",
editor = "Mitkov, Ruslan and
Mu{\~n}oz, Rafael and
Lloret, Elena and
Ranasinghe, Tharindu and
Estevanell-Valladares, Ernesto L. and
Lamsiyah, Salima and
Montoyo, Andr{\'e}s and
Ezzini, Saad",
booktitle = "Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Natural Language Processing and Artificial Intelligence for Cyber Security",
month = jun,
year = "2026",
address = "Alicante, Spain",
publisher = "Department of Languages and Information Systems, University of Alicante",
url = "https://aclanthology.org/2026.nlpaics-1.21/",
pages = "189--203",
abstract = "This study investigates the manifestation of Schwartz{'}s Theory of Basic Human Values (STBV) within a pre-trained Large Language Model (LLM) by evaluating how persona prompting influences the model{'}s responses. Specifically, we use prompt-based persona induction to represent Schwartz{'}s ten broad value types e.g., Universalism, Achievement) and measure their effects using the model{'}s responses to the Portrait Values Questionnaire Revised (PVQ-RR). A neutral persona and human baseline serve as control conditions to assess the influence of persona prompting. Prompting strategies are also compared. Results show that value-based persona prompts systematically shift the model{'}s PVQ-RR response profiles, indicating that LLM questionnaire responses can be steered along Schwartz value dimensions under controlled prompting conditions. These findings suggest that value-based persona prompts may be useful for studying and configuring the expressed response profiles of LLM-based agents. Using Schwartz{'}s values as a structured measurement framework provides a way to evaluate how LLM responses change under persona prompting and offers a basis for future studies of value-conditioned agent behaviour."
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<abstract>This study investigates the manifestation of Schwartz’s Theory of Basic Human Values (STBV) within a pre-trained Large Language Model (LLM) by evaluating how persona prompting influences the model’s responses. Specifically, we use prompt-based persona induction to represent Schwartz’s ten broad value types e.g., Universalism, Achievement) and measure their effects using the model’s responses to the Portrait Values Questionnaire Revised (PVQ-RR). A neutral persona and human baseline serve as control conditions to assess the influence of persona prompting. Prompting strategies are also compared. Results show that value-based persona prompts systematically shift the model’s PVQ-RR response profiles, indicating that LLM questionnaire responses can be steered along Schwartz value dimensions under controlled prompting conditions. These findings suggest that value-based persona prompts may be useful for studying and configuring the expressed response profiles of LLM-based agents. Using Schwartz’s values as a structured measurement framework provides a way to evaluate how LLM responses change under persona prompting and offers a basis for future studies of value-conditioned agent behaviour.</abstract>
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%0 Conference Proceedings
%T Exploring the Manifestation of Schwartz’s Basic Human Values in Large Language Models
%A Hyland, Ryan
%A Newsham, Lewis
%A Prince, Daniel
%Y Mitkov, Ruslan
%Y Muñoz, Rafael
%Y Lloret, Elena
%Y Ranasinghe, Tharindu
%Y Estevanell-Valladares, Ernesto L.
%Y Lamsiyah, Salima
%Y Montoyo, Andrés
%Y Ezzini, Saad
%S Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Natural Language Processing and Artificial Intelligence for Cyber Security
%D 2026
%8 June
%I Department of Languages and Information Systems, University of Alicante
%C Alicante, Spain
%F hyland-etal-2026-exploring
%X This study investigates the manifestation of Schwartz’s Theory of Basic Human Values (STBV) within a pre-trained Large Language Model (LLM) by evaluating how persona prompting influences the model’s responses. Specifically, we use prompt-based persona induction to represent Schwartz’s ten broad value types e.g., Universalism, Achievement) and measure their effects using the model’s responses to the Portrait Values Questionnaire Revised (PVQ-RR). A neutral persona and human baseline serve as control conditions to assess the influence of persona prompting. Prompting strategies are also compared. Results show that value-based persona prompts systematically shift the model’s PVQ-RR response profiles, indicating that LLM questionnaire responses can be steered along Schwartz value dimensions under controlled prompting conditions. These findings suggest that value-based persona prompts may be useful for studying and configuring the expressed response profiles of LLM-based agents. Using Schwartz’s values as a structured measurement framework provides a way to evaluate how LLM responses change under persona prompting and offers a basis for future studies of value-conditioned agent behaviour.
%U https://aclanthology.org/2026.nlpaics-1.21/
%P 189-203
Markdown (Informal)
[Exploring the Manifestation of Schwartz’s Basic Human Values in Large Language Models](https://aclanthology.org/2026.nlpaics-1.21/) (Hyland et al., NLPAICS 2026)
ACL