MORALIA - The dynamics of morale in thinking over the course of life (2011–2013) Pilot project
Primary Investigator: Dr. phil. Sonja Ehret
Project Partner: Akademie für Ältere, Heidelberg
Project Team: Dr. phil. Sonja Ehret (responsibility), Dr. phil. Judith Beil (co-worker in conception phase 2011)
Project description
Background and aims
Moral development in old age is widely unexplored in German gerontology. Regarding the contextualization of the life span, we suggest to follow Kohlberg (1996) who ascertained that moral changes differ from cognitive changes but are potentially mediated by the latter (cf. Erikson 1997). Furthermore moral is influenced by culture and the objective of evolution (Hobhouse 1923). Gilligan (1982) attended to clarify gender-specific questions within the moral context. Parts of her assumptions should be picked up and carried forward within the public care discussion in order to advance new research. Other interesting concepts like guilt and conscience, law and justice, but also the value of life and its quality, Kohlberg tried to integrate in his theory. From a gerontological view we will address to these phenomena.
We are going to investigate moral stages and qualitative structures of ethical norms and elements over different age groups. Therefore, contemporary dilemmas relating to actual and common questions of society and care have to be evaluated. We want to establish references to relevant features of the “Conditio Humana” (cf. experience with dementia).
In due consideration of the equilibrated moral stages, the way moral judgements of the older participants differ from those of the young will be analysed. On this so-called B-stage, that is the horizontal extension of a moral stage, more responsible judgements are found, which are at large more prescriptive, reversible, universal and independent (cf. Kohlberg 1996).
Method
The moral stages and the development of ethical norms that turn into arguments for judgement will be analysed in four different age groups. Furthermore statistical procedures with SPSS-program and qualitative techniques will be used (Dewey 1986, Lenk 1974). Specific dilemmas will be chosen and constructed that represent a typical life span task for young and old people respectively. The underlying crises can be managed by making a decision based on normative as well as ontogenetic arguments. In addition a normative system of higher orders will be developed comprising for example humanity, fate, chance or harm. For the first step, i.e. the identification of moral stages, we use the Measurement of Moral Judgement sensu Colby and Kohlberg (1987).
Sample
We check the moral judgement in a sample of 93 participants divided in 4 groups: 22 grammar school pupils (15-16 years old), 20 high-school graduates (16-19 years old), 25 employees in middle age (28-57 years old) and 26 people in older and old age (59-83 Jahre). The participants were recruited from a grammar school, a big pharmacy company and the Academy for Elderly in Heidelberg.
First questions and assumptions
First of all the distribution of moral stages with regard to age is of note. Then we will take a look at the equilibration of stages (provided we can substantiate any) and their relationship with age. Even more: What about the attitudes of responsibility towards moral judgement? And when does a conscience decision arise? But also, when should we treat the judgement as a question of conscience? Then the assertions of both dilemmas will be compared. How do the moral stages correlate when we compare assertions for a typical life phase situation with those of a non-typical situation, forthcoming or past? Finally, we will deal with the question if it is possible to make assumptions in regard to differences of cohorts, age or time?
Results
Will be published soon on this page.
Materials
Care dilemma and lifetime dream dilemma (in German)
Publications
Ehret, S. (2013). The structure and dynamics of morals in thinking over the course of life.
In: International Journal of Aging and Society, 2,49-60.
