In this study we investigated the culture-invariant and culture-dependent nature of teachers’ ethical sensitivity in two countries. Our case study involves Finland (n=864), representing western culture, and Iran (n=556), representing eastern culture. Culturally-bound elements of ethical sensitivity were studied with the Ethical Sensitivity Scale Questionnaire (ESSQ). The analyses revealed that caring by connecting to others is a central, culturally-invariant dimension of ethical sensitivity in both cultures. In the dimensions of ethical sensitivity, the dimension of taking the perspective of others is particularly dependent on culture, given the differences in the cultural dimensions of power distance and the collectivity of the countries studied.
