An exploration of moral foundations in Singapore

DOI: 10.5176/2251-1865_CBP16.39

Authors: Zhang Lijun and Setoh Peipei

Abstract: The current study examines the Moral Foundations Theory (MFT) in the Singapore context. The MFT proposes that there are five universal and innate moral foundations: Harm /Care, Fairness/Reciprocity, Ingroup/Loyalty, Authority/Respect, and Purity/Sanctity. 139 college students responded to the Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ30) online. Our findings suggest that Singaporeans are more concerned with Harm and Fairness than with the other three moral foundations. Furthermore, Singaporeans scored higher on Purity than a comparison U.S. sample. An exploratory factor analysis also provides support for the five-factor structure of moral domains delineated in the MFT.

Keywords:Moral Foundation Theory; Singaporeans; Culture)