Abstract
This paper is a brief critical review of the present state of research and theory in the area of moral development. It poses a number of questions about the theoretical basis of Kohlberg's six stages and examines the nature of the evidence to date and the limitations of knowledge in the area. The writer argues for an extension of this theoretical approach to moral development, with a greater emphasis on structure, and a reexamination of the psychological implications of the definition of “moral” used in this area of research.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Erikson, E. H. (1950).Childhood and Society, Penguin, London.
Flavell, J. H. (1963).The Developmental Psychology of Jean Piaget, Van Nostrand, Princeton, N. J.
Haan, N., Smith, M. B., and Block, J. (1968). Moral reasoning in young adults: Political-social behavior, family background and personality correlates.J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 10:183–201.
Hoffman, M. L. (1971). Identification and conscience development.Child Development 42:1071–1082.
Hoffman, M. L., and Salzstein, H. D. (1967). Parent discipline and the child's moral development.J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 5:45–57.
Keniston, K. (1970). Student activism, moral development and morality.Am. J. Orthopsychiat. 40:15–24.
Kohlberg, L. (1958). The development of modes of moral thinking and choice in the years ten to sixteen. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Chicago.
Kohlberg, L. (1963). The development of children's orientation toward a moral order.Vita Humana 6:11–33.
Kohlberg, L. (1964). Development of moral character and moral ideology. In Hoffman, M. L., and Hoffman, L. W. (eds.),Review of Child Development Research, Vol. 1, Russell Sage Foundation, New York.
Kohlberg, L. (1968). The concept of moral maturity. Unpublished paper presented to NICHD Conference.
Kohlberg, L. (1970). Education for justice. In Sizer, N. F., and Sizer, T. R. (eds.),Moral Education, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass.
Kohlberg, L. (1971). From is to ought. In Mischel, T. (ed.),Cognitive Development and Epistemology, Academic Press, New York.
Kohlberg, L., and Kramer, R. (1969). Continuities and discontinuities in childhood and adult moral development.Hum. Develop. 12:93–120.
Lambert, H. V. (1971). A comparison of Jane Loevinger's theory of ego development and Kohlberg's theory of moral development. Unpublished Ph.D. thesis, University of Chicago.
Loevinger, J. (1966). The meaning and measurement of ego development.Am. Psychologist 21:195–206.
Lorimer, R. (1971). Change in the development of moral judgment in adolescence: the effect of structural exposition v. film discussion.Can. J. Behav. Sci. 3:1–10.
Milgram, S. (1965). Some conditions of obedience and disobedience to authority.Hum. Relations 18:57–76.
Moscovici, S. (1972). Society and theory in social psychology. In Israel, J., and Tajfel, H. (eds.),The Context of Social Psychology, Academic Press, New York.
Peters, R. S. (1970). Concrete principles and the rational passions. In Sizer, N. F., and Sizer, T. R. (eds.),Moral Education, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Mass.
Peters, R. S. (1971). Moral development: A plea for pluralism. In Mischel, T. (ed.),Cognitive Development and Epistemology, Academic Press, New York.
Piaget, J. (1953–1956). In Tanner, J., and Inhelder, B. (eds.),Discussions on Child Development, Tavistock, London.
Podd, M. (1972). Ego identity status and morality.Develop. Psychol. 6:497–507.
Rest, J., Turiel, E., and Kohlberg, L. (1969). Level of moral development as a determinant of preference and comprehension of moral judgments.J. Personal. 37:225–252.
Tomlinson-Keasey, C., and Keasey, C. B. (1972). Formal operations and moral development: What is the relationship? Paper presented to A.P.A. meeting, Hawaii, September.
Turiel, E. (1966). An experimental test of the sequentiality of developmental stages in the child's moral judgments.J. Personal. Soc. Psychol. 3:611–618.
Turiel, E. (1969). Developmental processes in the child's moral thinking. In Mussen, P. H., Langer, J., and Covington, M. (eds.),Trends and Issues in Developmental Psychology, Holt, New York.
Van den Daele, L. (1968). A developmental study of the ego-ideal.Genet. Psychol. Monogr. 78:191–256.
Weinreich, H. E. (1970a). A replication and evaluation of a study by Lawrence Kohlberg of the development of moral judgment in the adolescent. Unpublished M.Phil. thesis, University of Sussex.
Weinreich, H. E. (1970b). Pattern in the development of moral judgment in the adoloscent. Paper presented to the B.P.S. Social Psychology Section Conference, Loughborough.
Weinreich, P. (1970). Attitude dynamics in the context of personality. Paper presented to the B.P.S. Social Psychology Section Conference, Loughborough.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This paper is a revised version of a paper presented to the British Psychological Society Social Psychology Section Conference, Bristol, September 22, 1973.
Has a master's degree in psychology and is currently working toward a Ph.D. in psychology in the field of moral development.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Weinreich, H. The structure of moral reason. J Youth Adolescence 3, 135–143 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02215172
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02215172