Carol Gilligan's Theory of Moral Development

Summary

Carol Gilligan's theory of moral development challenges traditional views by highlighting gender differences in moral reasoning. She distinguishes between care-based morality, common in females, and justice-based morality, often associated with males. Gilligan's three stages—preconventional, conventional, and postconventional—illustrate how individuals evolve from self-interest to a balanced concern for others and themselves. Using real-life examples, such as how friends handle bullying, the theory shows how moral development is shaped by personal relationships and societal norms. Gilligan's work emphasizes the need for a more inclusive view of moral growth that considers both care and justice perspectives.

Takeaways

• 😀 Gilligan's theory of moral development addresses gender differences in how men and women approach moral dilemmas.
• 😀 Males tend to focus on justice-based morality, emphasizing fairness, rights, and equality, while females are more likely to adopt care-based morality, focusing on relationships and responsibility for others.
• 😀 Gilligan proposed that moral development occurs in three stages: preconventional, conventional, and postconventional.
• 😀 The preconventional stage focuses on individual survival and self-interest, with the transition moving from selfishness to responsibility for others.
• 😀 The conventional stage involves internalizing norms about caring for others, often at the expense of self-care, with the transition from self-sacrifice to realizing the need to care for oneself too.
• 😀 The postconventional stage represents a balance between caring for others and oneself, with a focus on nonviolence and avoiding harm to others and self.
• 😀 Gilligan's theory highlights that males and females are socialized differently, which leads to differing moral perspectives, with girls learning care-based morality from their relationships with their mothers.
• 😀 Gilligan argued that Kohlberg's theory of moral development did not sufficiently address gender differences, as it was based on male-dominated research.
• 😀 Justice-based morality views the world as composed of autonomous individuals, while care-based morality emphasizes interconnectedness and helping those in need.
• 😀 In practical examples, such as the mole and porcupine scenario or Amy and Ella, males typically approach dilemmas from a justice-based perspective, while females approach them with care and concern for relationships.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the theory developed by Carol Gilligan?

Carol Gilligan developed a theory focused on gender differences in moral development, particularly emphasizing the ethics of care and the differing moral perspectives of men and women.

How did Carol Gilligan's theory differ from Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development?

Gilligan's theory differed from Kohlberg's in that it addressed gender differences in moral development, as Kohlberg's study was predominantly male and lacked a focus on the caring perspective, which Gilligan argued was more common in females.

What are the two main types of morality discussed in Gilligan's theory?

The two main types of morality in Gilligan's theory are care-based morality and justice-based morality. Care-based morality emphasizes interconnectedness and helping others, while justice-based morality focuses on fairness and equality.

How does care-based morality differ from justice-based morality?

Care-based morality focuses on relationships, interconnectedness, and avoiding violence, with an emphasis on helping those in need. In contrast, justice-based morality views individuals as autonomous, with an emphasis on fairness and avoiding inequality.

According to Gilligan, why are females more likely to adopt care-based morality?

Gilligan suggested that females are more likely to adopt care-based morality due to their closer relationship with their mothers, which emphasizes caring for others and interpersonal relationships.

How does a justice-based perspective approach moral dilemmas?

A justice-based perspective views moral dilemmas as conflicts between competing claims, where one side must win, and the other must lose. It aims to resolve the conflict by choosing a winner.

How does a care-based perspective approach moral dilemmas?

A care-based perspective sees moral dilemmas as situations where all parties are interconnected and seeks to find a solution that minimizes harm to everyone, often involving compromise and creative solutions.

What are the three stages of moral development in Gilligan's theory?

The three stages of moral development in Gilligan's theory are preconventional, conventional, and postconventional. Each stage reflects a different focus in how individuals perceive and navigate moral issues.

Can you describe the preconventional stage of Gilligan's theory?

In the preconventional stage, individuals are focused on personal survival and learn to care for themselves. The transition in this stage is from selfishness to taking responsibility for others.

What is the goal of the conventional stage in Gilligan's theory?

The goal of the conventional stage is self-sacrifice, where individuals internalize norms about caring for others, often at the expense of their own needs. The transition is from self-sacrifice to recognizing the importance of caring for oneself as well.

What does the postconventional stage involve in Gilligan's moral development theory?

The postconventional stage involves a critical assessment of the conventions adopted in the conventional stage, and the individual learns to balance caring for both oneself and others, ultimately adopting a principle of nonviolence.

How might Amy's actions during a bullying scenario illustrate the stages of moral development?

In the preconventional stage, Amy might leave her friend behind to avoid conflict. In the conventional stage, she might fight the bully to protect her friend. In the postconventional stage, she might intervene to prevent the fight altogether, focusing on stopping harm.