THE ETHICS OF CARE - STABILITY OVER TIME, GENDER DIFFERENCES, AND CORRELATES IN MID TO LATE ADULTHOOD

This article examines the development of Gilligan's care ethic and its correlates in mature adults. Two studies showed that women scored sig nificantly higher on the Ethic of Care Interview (ECI) than did men. M ore women than men generated interpersonal real-life dilemmas, and mor e men than women generated impersonal ones. In Study 2, longitudinal d ata indicated that care levels were moderately stable in mid- to late adulthood. The ECI was negatively related to authoritarianism and posi tively related to justice levels, role taking, and cognitive complexit y People scoring higher in care also felt more positively about their physical health and experience of aging. These results support the con struct validity of the ECI and point to its potential role in adults' personal adaptation.