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Moral values refer to the right and wrong of behavior. The universal existence of morals throughout cultures suggests that human beings develop moral values out of inherent, innate capacities. Humans enter life in powerful attachment based on mutual interactive attunement with primary caregivers. Mutual attunement continues throughout life, expressed in experiences of approval and disapproval. We propose that this ongoing, maturing, mutual attunement lays the foundation for the capacity to develop moral values.
Initially infants experience being valued through their attunement with caregivers. Further, they experience mutually generated pleasure and joy. This experience establishes the basis for vigor and energy in living. Later, socializing shame experiences and the repair of these experiences of disapproval allow the child to differentiate and to become increasingly more autonomous about modulating his or her behavior. The capacities for empathy, shame, and autonomy are essential for the development of moral values. We propose that in human development, attuned relatedness leads to moral values based on primary incentives for good. Disturbed mutual attunement leads to moral values based on secondary incentives for good or to a failure of establishing moral values.
Studies of moral processes suggest that there are differences between how men and women understand moral dilemmas. Studies of development suggest that boys and girls follow different pathways in their development within attuned relationships with caregivers. We describe these differences and propose that the different developmental pathways relate to differences between men and women in their stances with moral values.