Transmission of the Valuations of Human Lives Between Mother and Child

The transmission of value between a mother and her children is investigated through a cross-sectional developmental study. The objective of this project is to narrow down the attribution of values to particular individuals of varied age, gender, and familial relationship; and observe trends in how mothers respond compared to children indicative of the transmission of value. The study included children aged five through nine years old (N = 149), some participants were siblings (n = 26), and their mothers (n = 123). A sinking ship selection task was administered and framed in either a saving or giving up context. Questions followed the sinking-ship task to gain insight into the respondents' selections of the presented stimuli. The results suggested a relationship between mothers' and children's sinking-ship task selections and that specific factors influence the choices made by participants. The transmission of value from mothers to children is supported by the study's outcomes. Findings contribute a further understanding of decision-making processes and intergenerational differences in the context of moral hypotheticals. Implications of the findings have material applications that can inform educational curricula and be implemented in school settings.