In one Defining Issues Test (DIT) the dilemma was the following: "A news reporter must decide whether to publish some old personal information that will damage a political candidate." The Netherlands research cited in the textbook found that

for emerging adults, moral thinking may produce moral behavior.
adolescents were quick to "damage" the candidate.
middle-aged adults were quick to "forgive" the candidate.
late adults became less flexible in their moral thinking.

for emerging adults, moral thinking may produce moral behavior.