Gilligan's theory, which identifies two distinct orientations of moral decision-making, care and justice, was extended in this study. Moral dilemmas were used to ascertain percentages of care-based responses versus justice-based responses in 40 men and 39 women. Based on previous research, it was predicted that by increasing the level of…

Reports the results of administering the Crissman test of moral values to 169 Ohio State University students in 1988, and discusses changes as measured over the last 60 years using the same test. Finds college youth of the 1980s the least morally severe generation of recent times. (DM)

Male and female eleventh grade students from 14 schools in Tel Aviv were tested to determine the effect of gender and other factors on values and value judgments. No predominating factor was found, although gender effect could be quantified. (DM)

Results support Kohlberg's speculation that orientational preference rather than level of stage structure may be the primary area in which sex differences in moral judgment are manifested. It is concluded that ascriptions of greater adequacy or maturity to the moral thought of one or the other sex are appropriate. (RH)

Found that early adolescents use various models to make moral decisions. These include care (wishing others not to suffer), justice (decisions made according to principles), and narrowly concerned or selfish. Males and females used all three modes, with males being more likely to choose the narrowly concerned mode. (RJM)

Since Kohlberg (1958) first extended the cognitive developmental theory of moral judgment to include moral reasoning in adults, it has been found that women tended to score at a lower developmental stage than did men. Gilligan (1982) has conceptualized women's moral reasoning as being different in kind from men's moral reasoning, with women's…

Investigated sex differences in moral thinking and the relationship between sex roles and moral judgment across the adult lifespan. A total of 60 subjects participated: 10 women and 10 men in each of three age groups (18-24, 30-50, 60-75). A multiple measures approach to data collection was employed. (RH)

Investigated the effects of gender, gender role, and type of moral dilemma on moral maturity and orientation of university students. Found that females were more consistent than males in moral stage; males were more consistent in moral orientation. Findings suggest that a more interactional model of moral judgment than the models of L. Kohlberg…

Examined age and sex variations in moral judgment processes in 242 respondents aged 14 to 92. Found few sex differences in stage or patterns of information-seeking. Older participants (over age 75) scored at significantly lower stage levels than younger subjects. Older participants seemed more likely than younger subjects to assimilate moral…

According to Gilligan (1982) there are two different orientations for describing moral development: a justice orientation characteristic of males, and a care orientation characteristic of females. Gilligan claims that the care orientation is confounded with the justice orientation in Kohlberg's (1983) conceptualization of Stage 3: mutual…

Demonstrates that job satisfaction is positively related to the congruence between the personality types of individuals and their work environments for males and females. However, gender-specific differences are apparent in terms of the relationship between person-environment congruence and extrinsic (males only) and overall (females only) job…

Discusses problems in Pratt, Golding, and Hunter's investigation (in this issue) of two propositions central to Gilligan's (1982) thesis on the mismeasurement of women's moral orientation and development. Describes research addressing the problems and indicates directions for further research. (RH)

Examined differences in self-identity and moral reasoning, as defined by Gilligan and Lyons, between male and female undergraduates (N=77). For self-description modes, findings revealed significant differences between male and female use of connected mode but not for use of separate/objective mode. Found significant differences between male and…

Assessed the moral judgments of 543 subjects, ages 9 to 81 years, to evaluate Gilligan's (1982; Brown, Tappan, and Gilligan 1995) claims that Kohlberg's moral judgment stage is biased against females. Found no support for Gilligan's claim of stage bias, but some support for claim of gender-related moral-oriented differences. (HTH)

Examined is Carol Gilligan's thesis that men and women use different moral languages to resolve moral dilemmas, i.e., women speak a language of caring and responsibility, and men speak a language of rights and justice. Her thesis is not grounded with adequate philosophical assumptions. (Author/RM)