Moral and social antecedents of young adults’ attitudes toward social inequality and social justice values

Authors

  • Tina Malti University of Toronto
  • Sebastian Dys University of Toronto
  • Lixian Cui New York University Shanghai
  • Marlis Buchmann University of Zurich

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14301/llcs.v8i1.397

Keywords:

civic competence, moral development, relationships, longitudinal study, developmental trajectories

Abstract

In light of growing social stratification, there have been calls to better understand the developmental antecedents of attitudes and values related to social inequality. In this study we predicted attitudes toward social inequality and social justice values from moral and social antecedents in a representative sample of Swiss adolescents (N = 1,258) at 15 (Time 1), 18 (Time 2), and 21 years of age (Time 3). We assessed children’s sympathy and morals in the context of individuals’ decision-making and anticipation of emotions in moral dilemmas. Social-contextual factors included relationship quality, which was assessed by the quality of one’s closest friendship and education level. Adolescents who reported higher friendship quality and sympathy showed stronger attitudes toward social inequality later. Interestingly, adolescents’ own education level at age 18 positively predicted attitudes toward social inequality at age 21 above and beyond parent education level, but only marginally at a younger age. Social justice values at age 18 were predicted by sympathy and the anticipation of moral emotions at age 15, and social justice values at age 21 were associated with sympathy at age 18. Results are discussed with respect to the potential significance of morality and social-contextual factors in the development of attitudes toward social inequality and social justice values in early adulthood. 

Author Biographies

Tina Malti, University of Toronto

Associate Professor, Department of Psychology at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Sebastian Dys, University of Toronto

PhD Student in the Developmental Sciences program at the University of Toronto.

Lixian Cui, New York University Shanghai

Assistant Professor, Institute for Social Development, New York University Shanghai, China

Marlis Buchmann, University of Zurich

Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology, University of Zurich andDirector, Jacobs Center for Productive Youth Development University Zurich

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Published

2017-01-25

Issue

Section

Special section – Transition to young adulthood: The significance of inequalities of resources and contextual variations