Personal values ​​are something we develop throughout life; they can change over time and can be influenced by our family, our friends, our culture, religion and the media. Personal values ​​develop through experience and development, they impact our personal life as well as our professional life. This essay will examine my personal values, how they have formed over the course of my life, and how they influence my view of society and the role of the professional. In conclusion, I will outline my professional development by referring to Kohl's experiential learning model as well as my personal reflection on my development thus far. The family is the main agent of socialization and an institution. (Giddens, 2013:339). As children, we rely on our family to meet our basic needs. We all need guidance and, more importantly, we also need care to become healthy adults. The definition of family varies across cultures. The family, however, is sensitive to change and, therefore, not static. The structure of the family has changed and culture and society are now more accepting of the fact that people choose to cohabit rather than marry. (Haralambos and Holborn 2009:3). In 2013 there were almost 1.9 million single parent families with dependent children in the UK; a figure that has steadily increased over the years (Office of National Statistics 2013). The increase in single parents has led to greater acceptance of pregnancies that do not necessarily involve marriage, even if acceptance is not the concern. One study suggests that… On top of this, we are now more accepting of same-sex relationships as a result of the recent introduction and legalization of same-sex marriage. However, there is...... middle of the paper......at the Statistics. (2013). Statistical bulletin: Families and Households, 2013. Available at: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/family-demography/families-and-households/2013/stb-families.html. [Accessed 10 February 2014].Rogers, A. Pilgram, D. & Lacey, R. (1993) Experiencing Psychiatry: Users' Views of Services. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan. Scottish CLD executive. 2004. Working and learning together to build stronger communities. [online]. Available from: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/47210/0028730.pdf[Accessed 7 November 2013]Thompson, N. (2003) Promoting Equality – Challenging Discrimination & Oppression. 2nd edition. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.Thompson, N. (2005) Promoting equality. 2nd edition. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.Thompson, N. (2009) Understanding social work: preparing for practice. 3rd edition. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan.