PUB TYPE Reports- Research/Technical (143)-- Speeches /Conference Papers (150)

Gilligan's theory, which identifies two distinct orientations of moral decision-making, care and justice, was extended in this study. Moral dilemmas were used to ascertain percentages of care-,b4sed responses versus justice- based. responses in 40 men and 39 women. Based. on previous research, it was predicted that by-increasing the level of importance of a given situation and the degree of difficulty in reaching a decision, one would find significant increases in percentages of total care responseS in both men and women. It was also _predicted that in decisions of lesser importance, men would tend to rely on a justice orientation while women-would operate more from a care orientation. Results yielded support_for all but the ' latter of thesepredictions. These-findings deViate somewhat from predictions based-on Gilligan's theory that these orientations are predominantly sex-specific. Thus it is clear that the two orientations do in fact exist, but it is less clear under what circumstances sex differences may exist. Further research that focuseS on-situational differences and their relationo the responses of men and women is needed to clarify this issue. (References are included.) (Author) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * from the original document