The development of moral values in cultural context

Abstract

In past research on moral development, moral values and cultural considerations have been widely ignored. Therefore, questions of universality and cultural specificity in the development of moral values are addressed here. First, the author reviews preconditions of moral value development, including precursors of self-construal. The internalization process of moral values reveals the importance of self-regulation capacities and the motivating dynamic of moral values. Second, the focus is on the development of moral values in diverse cultural contexts. The multilevel structure of socialization conditions is examined in light of different cultural models for moral values and their emotional components. The concluding part suggests broadening research on moral development by focusing on implications of ongoing socioeconomic and cultural changes and cultural encounters.