A cross-cultural study of moral judgment made under insufficient information

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The present study compares the response of Japanese and American student in completing imperfect moral episodes by supplying antecedent and consequential contexts. Attention is given to the content of the produced story, the bases for judging the acceptability of the conduct of the protagonist, as influenced by the respective culture. By this method we try to capture the influence of culture upon the structural characteristics of the logic of moral, which is not accessible by kohlbergean judgment method of presenting completed full episode.In this article, as the first step of the analysis, the way in which the subjects judge the conduct of the protagonist was studied. In particular the cultural differences in the production and judgment were analyzed.Imperfect moral episodes :1 Susan lies to her mother about a recent grade on an important final exam.2 Jim's friends all go out to lunch and do not invite him.3 Sam, who is supposed to meet Allison at the restaurant at 8pm does not show up.4 Some of Julie's friends are talking about her behind her back.5 At a formal party everyone was dressed appropriately except for Sandy.6 Jeff makes a first and hits his friend Don in the jaw.Japanese tended to give severe judgment to the episodes which involve threats to symbiotic relationships (Story4). Americans were more severe in judging direct threats to the welfare and right of the individual (Story6).