The relationship of moral reasoning style to counselor expression of empathy

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
J. Scott Young, Professor and Chair (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: Results in the literature indicate that high levels of moral development are positively correlated with high levels of empathy. However, the issue of moral reasoning style and its relationship to empathy remains unclear. The role that moral reasoning style (care vs. justice orientation) plays in counselors' ability to relate empathically to clients was investigated among a sample of 44 counselors-in-training. Results indicate that counselors were able to respond equally to clients with the same moral reasoning style as themselves and to those with a different style. Counselors with a care orientation were no more able than justice-oriented counselors to respond empathically. Findings contribute information about measures of moral reasoning style and suggest that matching of counselors with college-aged and young adult clients based on moral reasoning style is not an issue of concern for college counselors.

Additional Information

Publication
The Journal of College Counseling, 3(2), 113-122
Language: English
Date: 2000
Keywords
Moral reasoning, Empathy, Counselors

Email this document to