Do children who exhibit higher levels of prosocial moral reasoning also exhibit higher prosocial behavior?

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We start by restating the prompt and listing all answer choices to ensure clarity.
Question: Do children who exhibit higher levels of prosocial moral reasoning also exhibit higher prosocial behavior?
Answer options:
- No, these children tend not to exhibit prosocial behavior as they are not able to apply their reasoning to the real world
- Yes, these children always exhibit prosocial behavior
- No, there is no relationship between reasoning and behavior
- Yes, there is a general tendency for these children to exhibit higher prosocial behavior

Now, evaluate each option one by one.

Option 1: No, these children tend not to exhibit prosocial behavior as they are not able to apply their reasoning to the real world. This statement asserts a negative and absolute disconnect between moral reasoning and behavior, suggesting that reasoning does not translate into action. In psychology, however, while the link between moral reasoning and behavior is not perfectly deterministic, research often shows a positive association: higher prosocial moral reasoning tends to relate to more prosocial actions. The claim here also mischaracterizes the idea of application to real-world situations by implying an inherent failure to apply reasoning, which is not universally supported.

Option 2: Yes, these children always exhibit prosocial behavior. This option claims a universal, unconditional outcome. In real-world data, there is typically variability; not every child with high prosocial reasoning will act prosocially in every situation due to context, social pressures, and other moderating factors. The word "always" makes this claim overly strong and unrealistic.

Option 3: No, there is no relationship between reasoning and behavior. This option denies any link between moral reasoning and subsequent actions. Empirically, many studies in moral development and social psychology find at least a directional relationship, even if modest or influenced by other factors. Saying there is no relationship at all ignores evidence of correlation found in the literature and is therefore overly absolute.

Option 4: Yes, there is a general tendency for these children to exhibit higher prosocial behavior. This option presents a nuanced, probabilistic relationship: a general tendency rather than a guaranteed outcome. It aligns with research indicating that, on average, higher prosocial moral reasoning is associated with greater prosocial behavior, while acknowledging that individual differences and situational factors can affect actual behavior.

Putting the pieces together, the combination of evidence and nuance supports the notion of a positive association that is not deterministic. The wording in Option 4 captures this probabilistic pattern without overclaiming certainty, while the other options overstate or misstate the relationship. The contrast between Options 2 and 4 highlights the importance of avoiding absolutes when describing behavior, and the contrast with Options 1 and 3 underscores the generally-supported link between reasoning and action rather than a complete disconnect.

Note: The reasoning emphasizes probability and moderating factors rather than absolute conclusions, which is consistent with how moral development research typically presents the relationship between reasoning and behavior.

PSYC-312-02 Quiz Chapter 13

Do children who exhibit higher levels of prosocial moral reasoning also exhibit higher prosocial behavior?

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