Moral Orientation and Moral Judgment in Adolescents in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and England

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Abstract
The orientation to perform affective, altruistic, and self-actualizing acts and to abide by the law in hypothetical moral dilemmas was studied in adolescents from Hong Kong, mainland China, and England. It was found that one's orientation to gratify psychological needs decreased consistently in the following order: belongingness, affective and giving, esteem and social, and self-actualization needs. The relation between moral orientation and moral judgment was significant and positive across the three cultural samples. In addition, Chinese subjects showed a stronger orientation to perform affective and altruistic acts and to abide by the law than did English subjects. English female subjects also showed a stronger orientation to perform affective and altruistic acts and to abide by the law than did English male subjects.