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Gender-related differences in moral judgments

Cognitive Processing volume 11, pages 219–226 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

The moral sense is among the most complex aspects of the human mind. Despite substantial evidence confirming gender-related neurobiological and behavioral differences, and psychological research suggesting gender specificities in moral development, whether these differences arise from cultural effects or are innate remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of gender, education (general education and health education) and religious belief (Catholic and non-Catholic) on moral choices by testing 50 men and 50 women with a moral judgment task. Whereas we found no differences between the two genders in utilitarian responses to non-moral dilemmas and to impersonal moral dilemmas, men gave significantly more utilitarian answers to personal moral (PM) dilemmas (i.e., those courses of action whose endorsement involves highly emotional decisions). Cultural factors such as education and religion had no effect on performance in the moral judgment task. These findings suggest that the cognitive–emotional processes involved in evaluating PM dilemmas differ in men and in women, possibly reflecting differences in the underlying neural mechanisms. Gender-related determinants of moral behavior may partly explain gender differences in real-life involving power management, economic decision-making, leadership and possibly also aggressive and criminal behaviors.

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Acknowledgments

Manuela Fumagalli was supported by University of Milan, Department of Neurological Sciences grant. Roberta Ferrucci was supported by FISM-Fondazione Italiana Sclerosi Multipla—Cod. 2007/R/13.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Università di Milano, Via F. Sforza, 35, Milan, 20122, Italy

    M. Fumagalli, R. Ferrucci, F. Mameli, S. Marceglia, S. Mrakic-Sposta, S. Zago & A. Priori

  2. Centro Clinico per le Neuronanotecnologie e la Neurostimolazione, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milan, Italy

    M. Fumagalli, R. Ferrucci, F. Mameli, S. Marceglia, S. Mrakic-Sposta & A. Priori

  3. Unità Operativa di Neurologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milan, Italy

    M. Fumagalli, R. Ferrucci, F. Mameli, S. Marceglia, S. Mrakic-Sposta, S. Zago & A. Priori

  4. Dipartimento di Scienze Sociali e Politiche, Centro interdipartimentale di Ricerca e Intervento sui Processi Decisionali (IRIDe), Università di Milano, Milan, Italy

    C. Lucchiari & G. Pravettoni

  5. Unità di Epidemiologia, Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milan, Italy

    D. Consonni & F. Nordio

  6. Dipartimento di Clinica Medica, Nefrologia e Scienze della Prevenzione, Università degli Studi, Parma, Italy

    F. Nordio

  7. Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Centro di Neuroscienze Cognitive, Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele, Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy

    S. Cappa

Authors
  1. M. Fumagalli
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  2. R. Ferrucci
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  3. F. Mameli
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  4. S. Marceglia
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  5. S. Mrakic-Sposta
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  6. S. Zago
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  7. C. Lucchiari
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  8. D. Consonni
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  9. F. Nordio
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  10. G. Pravettoni
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  11. S. Cappa
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  12. A. Priori
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Priori.

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Fumagalli, M., Ferrucci, R., Mameli, F. et al. Gender-related differences in moral judgments. Cogn Process 11, 219–226 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-009-0335-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10339-009-0335-2

Keywords

  • Moral judgment
  • Morality
  • Utilitarianism
  • Gender differences