A REEXAMINATION OF GILLIGANS ANALYSIS OF THE FEMALE MORAL SYSTEM - DISTAFF ALTRUISM WILL NOT SUCCEED

Gilligan's (1982) refinement of Kohlberg's theory on moral development operates on two theses: (1) females, more so than males, reach moral decisions based on the personalities of the relevant individuals; and (2) female behaviors stemming from moral decisions are based upon ''ca re'' and ''responsibility for others.'' This article accepts the first thesis but argues that the second is incorrect. That is, self-interes t-i.e., aiding ''blood'' kin and/or carefully monitoring reciprocity-r ather than ''altruism'' is argued to be the operant dynamic in forging distaff morality and resultant behavior. Six empirical examples are p resented as contraindicative of Gilligan's second thesis. Finally, it is suggested that selection for the psychological traits of independen ce and the mastery of subtle social chess yielded ancestral females wh o had more descendants-us-than did females with alternative profiles.