One of the reasons I chose this article is that I have considered this very question, and discussed this question with various other people. The author Celia Kitzinger, cites some interesting case studies to support her position and to disprove the arguments of others that attempt to simplify the basis of human goodwill and morality. I do agree somewhat with her position of moral behavior being a social issue, and not an individual one. Some have other theories of the basis of human morality. I will review some of these arguments now as well as the results of related studies conducted to prove or disprove the stated theory.
             Self interest at the root of Morality
             One argument is that moral actions are automatic, a part of our species survival instincts.
             There are examples of this in normal every day life, mothers and fathers saving children or each other. Another example is the fame or acclaim received from others. An experiment to test if enlightened self-interest or, f empathic feelings would cause subjects to react. Empathy would cause a person to react in a way to alleviate another persons pain. The researchers believed their theory of morality being rooted in enlightened self-interest would be proven. Test subjects were seated in a room and watched another person receive shocks that were gradually increased. The test subjects were then given the chance to help the person by replacing him. How many people volunteered to replace the person instead of taking the opportunity to leave the situation behind surprised the researchers. This study only proved that while in some situations human good will and morality may be served by the ego, this is not always the case.
             Another theory is that morality is based on reasoned moral principles. This theory states that there are three stages of human morality. The beginning or pre-conventional level is achieved in childhood, when being good in defined by obedi
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