It was hypothesized that animistic thinking and thinking about specific moral dilemmas have been affected by cultural events in the last few decades. Animistic thinking was examined in second graders (n = 73) and was found to have declined markedly since 1929. In fifth and sixth graders (n = 144) moral reasoning about slavery was at a significantly higher level than moral reasoning on six other dilemmas. Cognitive progress thus seems to be positively affected by cultural changes which are long-term and which allow the child time to consolidate the information and experience provided.
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