DIFFERENCES BETWEEN YOUNG AND OLDER ADULTS’ MORAL EVALUATION OF LIES AND TRUTHS

Abstract

Past research exploring the developmental changes in moral evaluations of truth and lies suggest that evaluations get increasingly utilitarian with age. However, no research yet has investigated whether further developmental changes occur in late adulthood, or if evaluations remain utilitarian. Yet, such changes might be expected given changes in older adults’ future time perspective and social-cognitive functioning. The present study seeks to preliminarily explore the differences between young (18 to 25-year-olds) and older (60-year-old and above) Singaporeans’ moral evaluations of different truths and lies. Participants were asked to read vignettes that described characters telling truthful or untruthful statements, and evaluate the characters’ actions. Exploratory factor analysis grouped participants’ evaluations into eight underlying motivations. Older participants rated motivations underlying politeness lies, modesty lies, and lies towards the family more negatively, and truths acknowledging one’s actions and beliefs more positively than young participants. Future time perspective differences could not explain these age differences. Results suggest that older adults considered intentions less when making evaluations. The results were discussed with the two-process model of moral judgements from moral developmental literature. Given the age differences found, the current results have implications on the use of lies, even prosocial ones, with an older adult.