The Ethic of Care: Stability Over Time, Gender Differences, and Correlates in Mid- to Late Adulthood

This article examines the development of Gilligan's care ethic and its correlates in mature adults. Two studies showed that women scored significantly higher on the Ethic of Care Interview (ECI) than did men. More women than men generated interpersonal real-life dilemmas, and more men than wome...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Psychology and aging 1996-06, Vol.11 (2), p.280-292
Main Authors: Skoe, Eva E, Pratt, Michael W, Matthews, Meredith, Curror, Susan E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult. Elderly
Adults
Age Differences
Age Factors
Aged
Aging - psychology
Biological and medical sciences
Care
Caregivers
Caregivers - psychology
Correlates
Developmental psychology
Ethics
Female
Followup Studies
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gender differences
Human
Human Sex Differences
Humans
Interpersonal Relations
Male
Middle age
Middle Aged
Morality
Older people
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Responsibility
Sex Factors
Sexes
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Summary:This article examines the development of Gilligan's care ethic and its correlates in mature adults. Two studies showed that women scored significantly higher on the Ethic of Care Interview (ECI) than did men. More women than men generated interpersonal real-life dilemmas, and more men than women generated impersonal ones. In Study 2, longitudinal data indicated that care levels were moderately stable in mid- to late adulthood. The ECI was negatively related to authoritarianism and positively related to justice levels, role taking, and cognitive complexity. People scoring higher in care also felt more positively about their physical health and experience of aging. These results support the construct validity of the ECI and point to its potential role in adults' personal adaptation.
ISSN:0882-7974
1939-1498
DOI:10.1037/0882-7974.11.2.280