Approximately 300,000 child soldiers serve in various armed groups around the world, and become directly implicated in the perpetration of kidnappings, killings, and torture. Considering that children construct moral concepts and a sense of themselves as moral beings in the context of their everyday interactions with others, the concern with how…

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…

Underlines two major differences between moral judgments and moral behavior. For behavior, the moral situation is construed from an observer's perspective after the event and typically involves conflicts between moral and other kinds of pressures. For judgment, the situation is interpreted from the self's perspective in advance and often involves…

Comments on the issues introduced by Saltzstein (PS 522 554) in this issue. Elaborates on Saltzstein's proposed social cognitive factors that may account for discrepancies between moral reasoning and action, highlighting strengths and weaknesses. (AA)

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)

Democratic Socialization is viewed from a cognitive developmental perspective in which hypothetico-deductive thinking and exposure to democratic models are seen as necessary, but not sufficient to development of democrative values. A taxonomy of democratic development is offered. (MS)

Presents a theoretical perspective for the psychological study of moral development which does not rely on the notion that different types of moral view have different logical structures and which provides a framework for specific predictions about moral content and moral reasoning, motivation, and behavior. (Author/RH)

Comments on revision of Piagetian theory of reciprocity in forgiveness by Enright (PS 522 365) in this issue. Reviews relationship of Enright theory to previous research. Suggests that forgiveness may require moral insights in addition to reciprocity, but reciprocity appears central to children's and adults' understanding of forgiveness. Provides…

Proposes a cognitive mechanism that makes forgiveness possible. Revises Piaget's theory that ideal reciprocity is the underlying cognitive operation that makes understanding and appreciation of forgiveness possible. Draws on modern philosophical inquiry, empirical study, and theory to argue instead that abstract identity provides--philosophically…

Reviews a book which describes the Sociomoral Reflection Measure-Short Form. Compares the test to that of Lawrence Kohlberg, pointing out benefits and drawbacks of the test, and concludes the test represents a notable advance in the measurement of Kohlberg's first four stages of moral development. (TM)

Theory and research regarding moral motivation has focused for decades on the roles of moral reasoning and, to some extent, moral emotion. Recently, however, several models of morality have positioned identity as an additional important source of moral motivation. An individual has a moral identity to the extent that he or she has constructed his…

Theories of legal socialization can be classified as either content or process models. The present paper suggests that the latter suffer from two major misconceptions: a lack of interest in the behavioral consequences of legal judgments, and the assumption that judgments are the causes of action. (MS)

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…