The aim of the current study was to tap implicit theories of a set of values selected from Schwartz's value model. The associations to seven value items (helpful, broad-minded, social justice, unity with nature, authority, ambitious and successful) were examined by a sample of 130 university students from three different fields of study (social science, business and technology). The findings suggest that the value items in Schwartz's value survey have relatively consistent meanings. The results mainly support Schwartz's theory by showing that most of the associations given to the value items could be located on the same value domain to which the item belonged or on the adjacent values. The influence of respondents' own value priorities and professional orientation on the associations was also evident in the results. From the standpoint of Holland's taxonomy of work environments, especially social science students' conceptions of Schwartz's value items are explainable to a large extent by their social interest, but business students do not exclusively represent the enterprising type and preferences to enhance selfish interest. (Contains 1 figure and 2 tables.)