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A reexamination of Gilligan’s analysis of the female moral system

Distaff altruism will not succeed

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Abstract

Gilligan’s (1982) refinement of Kohlberg’s theory on moral development operates on two theses: (1) females, more so than males, reach moral decisions based on the personalities of the relevant individuals; and (2) female behaviors stemming from moral decisions are based upon “care” and “responsibility for others.” This article accepts the first thesis but argues that the second is incorrect. That is, self-interest—i.e., aiding “blood” kin and/or carefully monitoring reciprocity—rather than “altruism” is argued to be the operant dynamic in forging distaff morality and resultant behavior. Six empirical examples are presented as contraindicative of Gilligan’s second thesis. Finally, it is suggested that selection for the psychological traits of independence and the mastery of subtle social chess yielded ancestral females who had more descendants—us—than did females with alternative profiles.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Western Illinois University, USA

    Nancy S. Coney

  2. Townshire Manor, Suite 6, 401 Lake Street, 77801, Bryan, TX

    Wade C. Mackey

Authors
  1. Nancy S. Coney
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  2. Wade C. Mackey
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Correspondence to Wade C. Mackey.

Additional information

Nancy S. Coney is a professor at Western Illinois University and is interested in both clinical and nonclinical aspects of women’s psychology.

Wade C. Mackey is interested in biocultural anthropology and has authored two books on fathering:Fathering Behaviors (Plenum, 1995) andThe American Father (Plenum, 1996).

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Coney, N.S., Mackey, W.C. A reexamination of Gilligan’s analysis of the female moral system. Hum Nat 8, 247–273 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02912494

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