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The Development of a Moral Compass: Exploring Age and Gender Differences in Moral Foundations In Early and
Marie-Céline Gouwy1, Dries H Bostyn1, Barbara De Clercq1
1Department of Developmental, Personality, and Social Psychology, Ghent University, Ghent, East-Flanders, Belgium.
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.
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