Interpersonal Moral Conflicts Between Couples: Effects of Type of Dilemma, Role, and Partner's Judgments on Level of Moral Reasoning and Probability of Resolution

Authors: Krebs D.L.¹; Denton K.²; Wark G.²; Couch R.²; Racine T.²; Krebs D.L.²

Source: Journal of Adult Development, Volume 9, Number 4, October 2002 , pp. 307-316(10)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Forty-two male–female couples completed Kohlberg's test of moral development and made moral judgments about the most recent interpersonal moral conflict they had experienced in their everyday lives. Participants made lower stage moral judgments about their interpersonal moral conflicts than about the dilemmas on Kohlberg's test. The type of interpersonal moral conflict participants experienced and their role in the conflict were related to the types of moral judgments they made. Participants who reported philosophical conflicts made more mature moral judgments than participants who reported antisocial conflicts, especially if their role in the antisocial conflict was that of a transgressor. Conflicts were most likely to be resolved when partners' moral judgments about their conflict were similar in moral maturity. The implications of these findings for models of moral judgment are discussed.

Keywords: moral judgment; real-life; interpersonal conflicts; couples

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Psychology Department, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada; krebs@sfu.ca 2: Psychology Department, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

Publication date: 2002-10-01