Question 1

Which of the following does Carol Gilligan believe forms the basis of moral reasoning in women?

Accepted Answer

Carol Gilligan believes that the basis of moral reasoning in women is responsibility and care, which entails being attentive to the needs of others and valuing relationships. She argues that women tend to prioritize these values over abstract principles of justice and individual rights that dominate traditional moral theories.

Question 2

According to research, how does the moral reasoning of males and females compare?

Accepted Answer

Males and females do not differ markedly in the bases of their moral reasoning.

Question 3

While at the dinner table, Patrick knows that it is okay to eat his roll with his fingers, but not his mashed potatoes. Patrick's behavior reflects his understanding of

Accepted Answer

Patrick's behavior reflects his understanding of social conventions, which are a set of informal norms that govern behavior in social settings. Knowing which foods are appropriate to eat with fingers and which are not is an example of following social conventions. Personal domain refers to areas in which individuals have autonomy to make their own choices, while reactive aggression refers to impulsive or hostile behavior in response to perceived threats. Monitoring refers to the act of observing and evaluating one's own behavior.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is NOT CORRECT regarding the domains of social justice across culture?

Accepted Answer

C) is not correct because the perception of helping others as a basic moral rule or a social convention is not strictly divided along Western and non-Western lines. The understanding of helping behavior is more nuanced and varies across different cultures, but not necessarily in the binary way described.

Question 5

Actions that benefit others are called __________ behaviors.

Accepted Answer

Prosocial behaviors are actions taken that benefit others, such as helping or comforting someone in need or donating to charity. Hedonistic behaviors are actions taken solely for personal pleasure or gain, while perspective-taking and empathic behaviors involve understanding and relating to others but may not necessarily involve direct actions to benefit them.

Question 6

Preschoolers

Accepted Answer

Preschoolers do show some altruistic behavior, but they may not always know how to help others or may only show altruistic behavior in certain situations or towards certain individuals. They are still developing their understanding of empathy and the needs of others. Therefore, while they may show some limited altruistic behavior, it is not typically at adult-like levels.

Question 7

Research on Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning suggests that

Accepted Answer

Research has shown a positive correlation between level of moral reasoning and moral behavior, providing support for Kohlberg's theory. However, it is important to note that not all individuals progress through all stages in his theory and some may skip stages, indicating there may be individual variations in moral development. Additionally, cultural and contextual factors may impact the applicability of the theory across different societies. Kohlberg's theory also proposes that moral reasoning develops over time, with individuals advancing through the stages as they mature and gain life experiences.

Question 8

One day after school, Alfonso got his hair cut into a Mohawk and dyed purple. This decision represents which domain of social judgment?

Accepted Answer

Alfonso's decision to get a Mohawk and dye it purple falls under the personal domain, as it pertains to choices about his own body and appearance, reflecting individual preferences and autonomy rather than societal norms or moral principles.

Question 9

When Julianne saw her mother scurrying to get everything ready for dinner, she said, "Mom, you have so many things to do, what can I do to help?" Julianne's ability to see that her mother's task was burdensome is best described as an example of

Accepted Answer

Julianne's ability to recognize her mother's burden and offer help demonstrates perspective-taking, which involves understanding another person's situation or feelings.

Question 10

When Dana heard about an impoverished family not having money to buy food, she decided to donate her allowance to the family, even though she would not get anything in return. Dana's behavior is best described as

Accepted Answer

Altruism is defined as behavior that is motivated by a selfless concern for the welfare of others, without any expectation of personal gain. Dana's decision to donate her allowance to the impoverished family, even though she would not receive anything in return, is a clear example of altruism.

Question 11

Critics of Kohlberg's theory have noted that not all cultures have the same emphasis on __________ that is found in traditional American culture and in Kohlberg's theory.

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg's theory is based on the emphasis of individual rights and justice, which is a common theme in traditional American culture. However, other cultures may prioritize different values, such as duty and responsibility to others or care-based morality. Therefore, critics argue that Kohlberg's theory may not be applicable to all cultures and should be viewed with cultural context in mind. Option B is also a common theme in many cultures, but it is not the main criticism of Kohlberg's theory. Option C is a type of morality, but it is not the focus of the criticism. Option D is irrelevant to the question.

Question 12

Gilligan criticized Kohlberg's theory for

Accepted Answer

Gilligan argued that Kohlberg's theory was developed based on research with male participants and therefore did not account for potential differences in moral reasoning between men and women. She proposed an alternative theory of moral development that emphasized the role of care-based reasoning, which is often more characteristic of women's ethical considerations.

Question 13

__________ are arbitrary standards of behavior agreed to by a cultural group to facilitate interactions within the group.

Accepted Answer

Social conventions are standards of behavior that are agreed upon by a cultural group to make social interactions smoother and more efficient. These conventions can include things like manners, etiquette, and customs that might not have a direct moral or ethical component but are nevertheless important for maintaining social order. Personal moral codes, on the other hand, are individual beliefs about what is right or wrong, while stages of moral reasoning refer to the ways in which people develop their understanding of ethical issues over time. Immanent justices are beliefs about divine or cosmic justice that are inherent in the universe or the natural world.

Question 14

Actions that help others with no direct benefit to the individual are known as

Accepted Answer

Altruism refers to actions taken to benefit others without any direct personal gain. Empathy involves understanding and sharing the feelings of another person, but may not necessarily involve taking action to help them. Antisocial behavior is harmful to others and their well-being. Role-taking involves imagining oneself in the place of another person to understand their perspective, but may not necessarily result in actionable steps to help them.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about prosocial lying is correct?

Accepted Answer

The statement that Chinese school children believe that polite lying is acceptable when it helps the group, but hurts an individual, while the reverse is true in the United States is correct. Studies have shown that cultural differences influence attitudes towards prosocial lying, with Chinese culture prioritizing the well-being of the group over the individual. In contrast, Western cultures tend to prioritize honesty and individual rights.

Question 16

A controversial element of Kohlberg's theory is his claim that

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg's claim that there are universal, absolute standards of right and wrong is controversial because some argue that moral reasoning is influenced by cultural and societal factors, and what is considered right or wrong can vary across different cultures and time periods.

Question 17

At what point do children begin to understand that breaking a moral rule is more serious than breaking a social convention?

Accepted Answer

The answer of At what point do children begin to...

Question 18

Individuals who are reared with traditional Hindu beliefs

Accepted Answer

Traditional Hindu beliefs emphasize the concept of dharma or duty, which includes fulfilling one's obligations to others and the community, thus suggesting that individuals who are reared with these beliefs base their moral reasoning on principles of duty and responsibility to others. This differs from the emphasis on individual rights and justice in Judeo-Christian beliefs. Therefore, option A and B are incorrect. While Kohlberg's theory suggests that stages of moral development are universal, it does not necessarily mean that the bases of moral reasoning are the same across cultures, making option D incorrect.

Question 19

Carol Gilligan has argued that Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning puts too much emphasis on __________ and not enough emphasis on __________.

Accepted Answer

Carol Gilligan criticized Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development for overemphasizing justice and underemphasizing caring. She argued that Kohlberg's framework did not adequately capture the moral reasoning of women, who, she suggested, are more likely to approach ethical dilemmas through a lens of care and relationships rather than abstract principles of justice.

Question 20

Simple acts of altruism can be seen as early as __________ of age.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that infants as young as 18 months exhibit altruistic behavior, such as sharing toys and food with others.

Quiz 12: Moral Understanding and Behavior