Does the intra-individual structure of values exist in young children?

Recent research has shown that the Schwartz circular structure of values exists at the intra-individual level within adults. We extend this work by testing whether this structure also exists within children. We analysed responses from 748 Australian children (5 to 12 year-olds). We show, for the first time, that the circular structure of values exists within children as young as five. There is some evidence of greater differentiation with age. Further, we show that girls and boys share the same structure, but differ in their values priorities. Boys were generally located closer to self-enhancement and openness to change values, whereas girls were generally located closer to self-transcendence and conservation values. These results are discussed in light of the developmental literature.