Lawrence Kohlberg first published details of his research on the development of moral judgments in "Vita Humana" (later titled "Human Development"). Along with a series of other articles and essays, he greatly influenced research on moral development. He was instrumental in moving the field out of the narrow confines of analyses of psychological…

Draws parallels between MacIntyre's account, in "After Virtue," of contemporary moral theory and practice and the conduct of young adults in conflicts developed over the breaking of an agreement to cooperate. Implications of the similarities and differences are discussed. (Author/RH)

Evaluates the differing perspectives of Kohlberg and Turiel on moral reasoning. Both perspectives use stage displacement models to depict moral development and assume that as ontogenesis proceeds, the role played by earleir acquired moral stages becomes increasingly insignificant in comparison with the role played by more advanced stages. The…

Uses Rousseau's "Emile" to explicate Kohlberg's characterization of moral development and to illuminate several theoretical problems in Kohlberg's cognitive-developmental account. Analysis supports contentions that Kohlberg's concept of morality is unduly narrow and suggests that his one-sidedly rationalistic approach exaggerates the…

Discusses conceptual and methodological difficulties associated with the use of the form-content distinction in moral development literature. It is suggested that use of this distinction should be restricted to the analysis of social environmental influence on moral judgment. An empirical strategy for distinguishing form from content is then…

Philosophical tendencies in Kohlberg's cognitive-developmental theory of moral development such as apriorism, absolutism and formalism are unfavorably contrasted with the dialectical categories of historicism, double interactionism and reflection. In logic and epistemology the cognitive-developmental theory is shown to be based on a subjective…

Attempts to integrate Piaget's conceptualization of the development of social knowledge with the position of dialectical psychologists. (BD)

Compares narrative approaches to Kohlberg's theory of moral development along five dimensions: values relevance, legitimacy, universality, rationality, and commensurability. Argues that, contrary to Kohlberg's theory, narrative approaches may lead to contradiction in epistemology, nihilism in moral choices, and opportunism in relationships.…

Maintains that Jensen highlights the force of an orthodox moral outlook and offers a novel theoretical framework integrating moral judgment with moral behavior through the "worldview" mechanism. Argues that Jensen's identification of an orthodox moral outlook is more successful than the theoretical framework offered and that many…

Presents recent changes in the theory of moral stages, including a broadening of theoretical and research concerns, differentiation of "hard" and "soft" stages, clarification of the form-content distinction, revision of A and B substages, clarification of stages six and seven, discussion of moral action, and listing of nine…

The cognition/conduct problem is outlined as it arises in cognitive-developmental moral theory. A model of the connection between stage of moral reasoning and behavior is developed, involving two separate steps (from reasoning to judgments and from judgments to behavior).(Author/RH)

Reviews a collection of essays and articles primarily by German psychologists on the subject of social cognition. Of particular interest is the introductory exposition of "Handlungstheorie" (action theory), an orientation stressing goal-directed action and its intended or unintended consequences as central categories of psychological…

Elaborates on some issues in the debate between Kohlberg's cognitive-developmental approach and a narrative, relativistic, approach to studies of moral development. Reviews the concept of self in both approaches, ideas on the Cartesian rationality underlying Kohlberg's theories, and the reliance of the self on language in narrative approaches.…

Suggests that Kohlberg's cognitive-developmental approach and narrative, relativistic, approaches to moral development--which are seemingly opposed--may be integrated, each addressing an aspect of moral concerns. Explains how the approaches may address different aspects of theories of self, stresses the need for better interpretive rationale in…

Argues that moral reasoning is premised upon more comprehensive worldviews. Suggests that moral behaviors in part serve to maintain these worldviews. Uses interviews with adults whose moral evaluations and reasoning place them on opposite sides of the current American culture war to illustrate the argument that they differ in their moralities…