On the Ontogenetic Development of Moral Criteria

Changes in the dimensionality of the moral criteria, i.e. of those aspects of an action‐sequence to which a person pays attention when judging how good/bad (nice/naughty) the agent is, were studied with 7‐, 10‐, and 13‐year‐old girls and adult subjects. Action sequences varying in respect to potential moral criteria were presented as cartoons. A proximity setting technique and Kruskal's (1964) method of analysis were used. In the younger age groups a remorse‐spite‐dimension was obtained, the motive criterion becoming more dominant and differentiated with age. Methodological problems are discussed.