Carol Gilligan's Theory of Moral Development

Practice flashcards covering the key terms, stages, and transition points of Carol Gilligan's Theory of Moral Development as presented in the lecture notes.

Carol Gilligan

A psychologist and student of Lawrence Kohlberg who proposed the Ethics of Care theory, arguing that men and women have differing paths to moral development.

Lawrence Kohlberg

A Developmental Psychologist who introduced a theory of stages of moral development based on a predominantly male study population, which Carol Gilligan critiqued for excluding the caring perspective.

Moral Development

A field that encompasses prosocial behavior, such as altruism, caring, and helping, along with traits such as honesty, fairness, and respect.

Care-based Morality

A moral perspective emphasizing interconnectedness and universality where acting justly means avoiding violence and helping those in need; it is thought to be more common in girls.

Justice-based Morality

A moral perspective viewing the world as composed of autonomous individuals where acting justly means avoiding inequality; it is thought to be more common in boys.

Justice-based Perspective (Solution)

An approach to dilemmas seen as a conflict between different claims where the solution is a verdict that results in one side getting everything and the other getting nothing.

Care-based Perspective (Solution)

An approach to dilemmas that sees parties as being in a difficult situation together and seeks creative solutions or compromises that will not damage anyone.

Ethics of Care Theory Stages

The $3$ stages of moral development proposed by Gilligan: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional.

Basis of Transitions

Gilligan suggests that the movement through moral stages is fueled by changes in the sense of self rather than changes in cognitive capability.

Pre-conventional Stage

The stage where the individual learns to care for oneself with the goal of individual survival.

First Transition Point

The movement from selfishness to responsibility toward others.

Conventional Stage

The stage where an individual internalizes norms about caring for others and tends to neglect themselves with the goal of self-sacrifice.

Second Transition Point

The movement from self-sacrifice to the truth that the individual is a person and should be cared for too.

Post-conventional Stage

The final stage where an individual learns to balance caring for self with caring for others with the goal being a principle of nonviolence.