Women are More Moral than Men, Especially in the Workplace
A new study suggests that women are more moral than men, according to a leading philosopher who also found that women over the age of 30 were the most honest.
Professor Roger Steare developed the ‘Moral DNA’ test that measures both a person’s morality and changes in their value system when they go into the workplace, and found that on average women were more likely to make decisions based on how they impact others.
The study also found that morality changes with age, and both men and women become less obedient but more rational until they reach a "peak of our intellectual and moral powers" in their early 60s.
“Interestingly the crossover point occurs around our mid-thirties, which is when we mature as adults,” Professor Steare told the Daily Mail. “That process then continues until our early sixties, when we’re at the peak of our intellectual and moral powers – yet sadly the age people often end up leaving the workplace.”
Since the test was created four years ago, around 60,000 volunteers across 200 countries have already taken the survey. Participants were asked to comment about their work and home lives and make judgment on whether people around them would consider them to be honest.
Participants then rated statements like “I am good at exercising self-control” and “I always honour people’s trust in me” to get their morality results.
Afterwards a report will label the participants as one of the six personality types: philosopher, judge, angel, teacher, enforcer, or guardian.
Professor Steare told The Daily Mail that participant responses revealed their “ethics of obedience, care, and reason” qualities which he believes make up decision-making and therefore morality.
“The differences that emerged between men and women are valuable when we look at decision-making in the workplace. Women prefer to make their decisions based on how it impacts others – which tends to produce better decisions – while men have a more individual approach and are more self-interested,” he told the Daily Mail.
Professor Steare says that when it comes to the workplace, men need to grow up and put their ego to the side, and express more humility compassion. He says that while men may have these qualities in their personal lives, they seem to set aside their morality when they walk into the office.
The MoralDNA test is available at www.moraldna.org.