The debate concerning whether moral education should be taught in the schools is dominated by two views. One advocates values clarification, and the other calls for cognitive moral development. (AM)

Using Quay's typology, three equal groups (n=12) of adolescent psychopathic, neurotic, and subcultural delinquent males and a matched nondelinquent control group were individually administered Kohlberg's structured moral dilemmas, two Piagetian tasks of cognitive development (pendulum and balance), and an adaptation of Flavell's role-taking task.…

This article reviews the research applications of Dr. Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development and moral education. Included are studies conducted in both juvenile and adult correctional settings. (Author/CT)

This study tested the hypothesis that objective and subjective responsibility responses in moral judgment may be formally equal forms of cognitive organization. Results showed that subjects acting as offenders gave subjective responsibility responses; the same subjects acting as offended gave objective responsibility responses. Thus, subjects'…

Reviews the theoretical assumptions of Kohlberg's cognitive-development analysis of moral reasoning; discusses the construction of moral education programs along Kohlberg's principles; and emphasizes the psychological processes which account for the growth of moral reasoning during adulthood. (Author/AYC)

Outlines methods of teaching moral issues to undergraduate students using works of Lawrence Kohlberg, William Perry, Jr., Erik Erikson, and Elisabeth Kubler-Ross in conjunction with literary tests. Encourages comparative and illustrative studies of literature and film. Suggests student participation in cognitive and moral decision making of…

Investigates the hypothesis that those individuals who have not reached their full potential in moral reasoning given the limits set by their stage of Piagetian development would advance significantly more than those who have reached their potential in response to a moral education program. (Author/SS)

Support claims that the "Defining Issues Test" of cognitive-moral development cannot be faked higher. Finds that instruction about cognitive-moral development affected the scores of the teacher trainees who were tested. (RL)

Argues that effective moral education must address roadblocks in moral thinking, not merely urging moral development forward. Examines Lawrence Kohlberg's moral stages as immoral judgement marked by bias and manipulation. Views the Defining Issues Test (DIT) as a useful glimpse into the nefarious, focused on ideological content and commitment.…

This article demonstrates that the cognitive complexity and personality traits of gifted children create unique experiences and awarenesses that separate them from others. A central feature of children's gifted experience is their moral sensitivity and the asynchronous development of their inner world, which need to be understood and nurtured.…

Suggests that the formation of habits is the basis of character and morality. Supports this suggestion with citations from Henry James and other writers, and with examples of intellectual diligence from the lives of Helen Keller and Anne Frank. (HTH)

This longitudinal study with 62 children and adolescents examined the validity of the consolidation/transition model in the context of moral reasoning development. Results of standard statistical and Bayesian techniques supported the hypotheses regarding cyclical patterns of change and predictors of stage transition, and demonstrated the utility…

Educating for personal and social responsibility, from the perspective of moral cognition, involves promoting students' cognitive development. The literature suggests several approaches as successful in promoting cognitive development. Though Kohlberg views this development as primarily facilitated by dialogue with individuals in more advanced …

The authors criticize the central place of belief-desire psychology in the theories-of-mind enterprise. They detail the merits of adopting a more agentive framework for conceptualizing human action and demonstrate how children's growing understanding of epistemic agency relates to advances in moral reasoning. (Contains 4 tables and 2 figures.)

The neuropsychological bases of cognitive, social, and moral development are minimally understood, with a seemingly wide chasm between developmental theories and brain maturation models. As one approach to bridging ideas in these areas, we review 10 cases of early prefrontal cortex damage from the clinical literature, highlighting overall clinical…