Effect of values on responsibility perceived in moral action

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between preferred values and responsibility perceived in one's own action. The research sample consisted of 213 high school students (108 girls and 105 boys, mean age = 15.9 years). Participants were asked to describe their own good and bad actions and they filled in a value preference inventory. Participants either referred to the object of responsibility, e.g. they described actions toward specific people, or they mentioned an internal rule according to which they interpret their actions. In girls, values referring to other persons had an effect on actions. In boys, the value of working for society was important in predicting actions. Our results point to the importance of context in moral development.