Marie-Céline Gouwy, Dries H. Bostyn, Barbara De Clercq, Arne Roets
{"title":"The Development of a Moral Compass: Exploring Age and Gender Differences in Moral Foundations In Early and Mid-Adolescence","authors":"Marie-Céline Gouwy, Dries H. Bostyn, Barbara De Clercq, Arne Roets","doi":"10.1002/jad.12500","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n \n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Introduction</h3>\n \n <p>The Moral Foundations Theory (MFT) identifies innate moral foundations that drive moral judgment, and are assumed to mature at different phases throughout development. However, core developmental aspects of moral foundations, such as normative age and gender differences from an MFT perspective, remain relatively unexplored, particularly in pre-adulthood. Therefore, the present study investigates age and gender differences in moral foundations during adolescence, a sensitive phase for moral identity development.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Methods</h3>\n \n <p>Cross-sectional data was collected from 2022 to 2024 in a wide variety of elementary and secondary schools in Flanders, Belgium. A total of 778 adolescents (<i>M</i><sub>age</sub> = 13.14, SD<sub>age</sub> = 1.76, age range = 10–17 years, 55.4% boys, 44.6% girls) completed 30 moral foundation vignettes.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Results</h3>\n \n <p>Regression analysis revealed normative decreases in all moral foundations with age, with significant curvilinear trends observed for <i>Fairness</i>, <i>Authority</i>, and <i>Sanctity</i> among boys and girls. Gender differences emerged, with girls placing greater emphasis on <i>Care</i> and <i>Liberty</i>, and interaction effects also suggest distinct developmental trajectories of <i>Care, Liberty</i>, and <i>Loyalty</i> across genders.</p>\n </section>\n \n <section>\n \n <h3> Conclusions</h3>\n \n <p>These findings indicate that age-related and gender-specific changes in moral foundations already emerge during adolescence.</p>\n </section>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":48397,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Adolescence","volume":"97 5","pages":"1333-1343"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Adolescence","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jad.12500","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHOLOGY, DEVELOPMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction
The Moral Foundations Theory (MFT) identifies innate moral foundations that drive moral judgment, and are assumed to mature at different phases throughout development. However, core developmental aspects of moral foundations, such as normative age and gender differences from an MFT perspective, remain relatively unexplored, particularly in pre-adulthood. Therefore, the present study investigates age and gender differences in moral foundations during adolescence, a sensitive phase for moral identity development.
Methods
Cross-sectional data was collected from 2022 to 2024 in a wide variety of elementary and secondary schools in Flanders, Belgium. A total of 778 adolescents (Mage = 13.14, SDage = 1.76, age range = 10–17 years, 55.4% boys, 44.6% girls) completed 30 moral foundation vignettes.
Results
Regression analysis revealed normative decreases in all moral foundations with age, with significant curvilinear trends observed for Fairness, Authority, and Sanctity among boys and girls. Gender differences emerged, with girls placing greater emphasis on Care and Liberty, and interaction effects also suggest distinct developmental trajectories of Care, Liberty, and Loyalty across genders.
Conclusions
These findings indicate that age-related and gender-specific changes in moral foundations already emerge during adolescence.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Adolescence is an international, broad based, cross-disciplinary journal that addresses issues of professional and academic importance concerning development between puberty and the attainment of adult status within society. It provides a forum for all who are concerned with the nature of adolescence, whether involved in teaching, research, guidance, counseling, treatment, or other services. The aim of the journal is to encourage research and foster good practice through publishing both empirical and clinical studies as well as integrative reviews and theoretical advances.