From Super-Ego and Conformist Habitus to Ego-Syntonic Moral Motivation. Sociohistoric Changes in Moral Motivation

Article type: Review Article

Authors: Nunner-Winkler, Gertrud

Affiliations: Germany

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Gertrud Nunner-Winkler, Mozartstr. 6, 82049 Pullach, Germany. E-mail: nunner-winkler@t-online.de

Abstract: The text focuses on the structure of moral motivation, i.e. the way different types of concerns motivating norm conformity are anchored in the personality. It claims a socio-historic change: Older generations tend to submit to the dictates of a super-ego or follow a deeply ingrained need disposition for conformity. In contrast, the moral motivation of younger generations is more ego-syntonic, i.e. a willingly affirmed commitment to act as one judges to be morally right. This claim is supported by data from representative samples, a longitudinal analysis of about 200 children and an intergenerational comparison involving almost 400 participants. The change in moral motivation is related to changes in cognitive moral understanding and mediated by changes in socialization styles.

Keywords: Moral motivation, sociohistoric changes in moral understanding, super ego, happy victimizer, ethics of responsibility

DOI: 10.3233/DEV-2008-2305

Journal: International Journal of Developmental Science, vol. 2, no. 3, pp. 251-268, 2008