This essay comments on articles comprising a "Journal of Moral Education" Special Issue (September, 2008, 37[3]). The issue was intended to honour the 50th anniversary of Lawrence Kohlberg's doctoral dissertation and his subsequent impact on the field of moral development and education. The articles were characterised by the Issue editor (Don…

Is "development" a concept that properly belongs to mind and morality and, if it does, what account can we give of moral development now that Piagetian and Kohlbergian models are increasingly being abandoned in developmental psychology? In addressing this central issue, it is hoped that the paper will contribute to the quest for a new integrated…

The model of moral functioning scaffolded in the 2008 "JME" Special Issue is here revisited in response to three papers criticising that volume. As guest editor of that Special Issue I have formulated the main body of this response, concerning the dynamic systems approach to moral development, the problem of moral relativism and the role of…

Traditional philosophy and psychology have given greater attention to the cognitive than to the affective side of the human person. A more holistic approach shifts the emphasis to feeling as a guide to value objectivity. Values are apprehended and symbolized before a judgment is made as to their worthwhileness. The symbolizing process, that is,…

Discusses Kohlberg's theory of moral development and the criticism leveled against its four main assumptions. States that if these "supposedly foundational" assumptions were discarded, the theory would stand on its own. Concludes that since the major criticisms focus primarily on these assumptions, dispensing with them would eliminate…

Presents the transcript of a 1973 tape recorded interview with Mark May, who is best known for the studies on cheating he conducted with Hugh Hartshoren in the late 1920s and 1930s. The interview covers May's career and his thoughts about the studies he conducted. (JDH)

After describing the moral development "stage" theories of Piaget and, particularly, Kohlberg, the authors critique assertions that such stages are universal and sequential. Using findings from anthropology and other disciplines, they demonstrate that morality is culture-specific and that one person can simultaneously demonstrate…

This chapter argues for the essential role of culture in forming the basic constructs and theories of developmental psychology. The case is made for the need to overcome the cultural insularity of core developmental concepts and methods in order to create a psychology that is more truly universal.

Most moral psychologists have come to accept two types of moral reasoning: Kohlberg's "justice" and Gilligan's "care", but there still seem to be some unresolved issues. By analysing and comparing Kohlberg's statement on some theoretical issues with some of Gilligan's statements in an interview in April 2003, I will look at some key issues in the…

Examines processes of moral change in light of emerging concepts from narrative psychology. Argues that role taking can be better understood when narrative concepts are employed. Concludes that, where cognitive developmental and narrative approaches to psychological development differ, the narrative account can illumine and challenge categories…

Proposes that the self is constituted in narrative and that development can be seen as the self's effort at rewriting its account of the world. (LB)

Critiques studies of moral development and culture in light of key assumptions of cultural psychology with regard to culturally mediated contexts, the coherence and complexity of cultures, and agency in a culturally grounded self. Argues that the challenge remains to retain concern with agency and context sensitivity, while giving weight to the…

Examines and dismantles both cognitive-developmental theory of moral education and development and the politically based radical criticisms against it. Considers the implications for moral education of Piagetian cognitive-developmental stage theory and Rawlsian ethical liberalism. Calls for a reconstructed theory based on a new, broader…

This volume presents materials related to a symposium that addressed adult faith development. Chapters 1 and 2 provide background information on this topic and an overview of the symposium. Chapter 3 contains the hypotheses paper by Charles Bruning and Kenneth Stokes that was the basic document of the symposium. It provides a review of the…

Instead of confirming John Dewey's ideas, Lawrence Kohlberg's writings on moral-cognitive development conflict with some of Dewey's principal concepts about moral development. Dewey's views of psychological growth, or development, and attainment of the good are contrasted with Kohlberg's findings. (PP)