Conceptual and empirical evidence generally tends to support the assumption that self-actualization is related to moral maturity, in particular to transitional or post-conventional moral reasoning. Because the evidence is largely correlational, the precise nature of the relationship has yet to be clearly determined. (RM)

Presented at a 2-day seminar at the School of Education, University of New South Wales, Australia, this paper reviews theories and research findings concerning the development of children's sense of justice. Part I of the paper briefly discusses Jean Piaget's and Lawrence Kohlberg's theories concerning the development of children's moral…

Two related studies were conducted in order to investigate whether psychosocial and moral development appeared to have been disrupted and arrested in veterans diagnosed as having posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Study 1 was devoted to developing a measure of late adolescence, early adulthood, and adulthood stages of psychosocial…

Gilligan's work on sex differences in moral reasoning, perception of violence, resolution of sexual dilemmas, and abortion decisions poses a major challenge to Kohlberg's theory because of its feminist perspective of moral development. Gilligan suggests Kohlberg's demonstration of males and females attaining different levels of moral development…

This paper shares the contribution of adolescent development research to service learning research with the goal of strengthening service learning. The paper discusses four areas of research on adolescent development and considers three implications for service learning program development and research. It discusses in detail the following…

Reviews what is known and not known about three questions in comparative ethics: What are the ideas and concepts associated with moral thinking in normal Western adults? What are the processes resulting in a judgment that something is a vice or a virtue? Are those ideas, concepts, and processes available in different cultures and at different…

Presents a synopsis of moral development stages and the rationale for considering the significance of moral stages in group member selection. Moral growth should be facilitated during the productive phase of group process in which members deal with their differences, rather than ignore them. (Author/BEF)

Builds theory and research propositions by presenting moral stage and family development frameworks as tools for exploring the individual-psychological facet of family dynamics; exploring the interface of the frameworks; and reviewing and proposing research utilizing concepts from both models. (Author/BEF)

Discusses the development of moral sensitivity in gifted children and its impact on identity formation and development of the self. Also addresses how the phenomenon of asynchrony manifests in moral development of gifted children and the models they develop to give form to their moral concerns. (Author/CR)

Divided into three sections, this paper briefly presents Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning; surveys some key research relating childrearing practices to adolescents' social competence, including moral reasoning; and reports research findings concerning the value systems adolescents develop. The first section characterizes preconventional,…

In this review, little support is found for Piaget's claim that with increasing peer group interaction adult authority becomes less legitimate to the child. It is suggested that the adult exerts increasing influence with age on children's moral judgment and, therefore, emphasis on peer-centered moral education may be misdirected. (Author/SJL)

Addresses whether value change over the life course is a result of period shifts or individual maturation and differences in values among age strata are a function of cohort experience or individual maturation. Shows that on only one of the four dependent measures was aging directly implicated. (Author)

The main assumptions and categories of Kohlberg's theory are outlined. New empirical studies and critical reviews are discussed, and their implications assessed. The relevance of the theory to moral education is seen as self-evident. The conditions for the efficacy of moral education programs are discussed. (Editor/SJL)

Compares concepts defining Kohlbergian stages of moral development with those associated with orders of hierarchical complexity determined with a generalized content-independent stage-scoring system. Finds that Kohlberg's sequence generally matches that identified with the scoring system and that contract and authority concepts match the concepts…

This review examines research in moral and spiritual development during the adolescent years, with a primary focus on Piaget's and Kohlberg's theories. It begins by presenting definitions of morality and then discusses theories of moral development set forth by Piaget, Elkind, and Kohlberg. Theories of Piaget and Kohlberg are briefly compared.…