The study was conducted to assess the moral reasoning of adolescent boys and girls in the light of Gilligan theory. The main objectives of the study were to investigate the moral reasoning of adolescent boys and girls with reference to responsibility orientation versus justice orientation and to compare the frequency of adolescent boys and girls…

Earlier essays in this symposium describe Restorative Justice processes in schools, referred to in our school as a Fairness Committee. Implementing these collaborative, restorative processes does not come without challenges. This essay will explore some of the historical and theoretical roots of the Fairness Committee in Lawrence Kohlberg's work…

Kohlberg's developmental theory of moral reasoning postulates a supreme form of moral thinking, Stage Six, based on a principle of justice which provides consistent and universalizable moral judgement. This paper criticizes Kohlberg's formulation on philosophical and psychological grounds. (Author/SJL)

The Damon hierarchy of development of children's sense of positive justice is examined for its usefulness in predicting fairness in behavior and reliability in age patterning of its stated levels of reasoning. The hierarchy's value as a developmental schedule for teacher guidance may be questionable. (Author)

Provides a detailed account and critique of all of Lawrence Kohlberg's writings dealing with the seventh stage of his moral development theory. Discusses the uniqueness of stage seven as compared to one through six. Concludes that stages one through six culminate in, but are not lessened by, stage seven. (Author/AEM)

According to Gilligan (1982) there are two different orientations for describing moral development: a justice orientation characteristic of males, and a care orientation characteristic of females. Gilligan claims that the care orientation is confounded with the justice orientation in Kohlberg's (1983) conceptualization of Stage 3: mutual…

Investigated beliefs on immanent justice of over 2000 children of 4-14 years. Results suggest a modification of the Piagetian hypothesis. They also suggest that the influence of religious instruction should not be ignored. (RJC)

As early as 1932, Piaget posited four phases of development in moral judgments: amorality, egocentric morality, morality of constraint, and morality of cooperation. In the morality of cooperation, reciprocity (i.e., social reversibility) develops first on a concrete level and then on the level of abstract reciprocity or generalized exchange. In…

Three stories were presented via audiovisual media to each of three classes in grade two, three classes in grade four, and three in grade six. Children were interviewed individually after the presentations and were asked which misdemeanor in the stories was naughtiest, whether the punishment was fair, what punishment would be fair, and why.…

Describes Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development as a liberal ideology. Critiques Kohlberg's theory and liberal social science ideologies in general. (BD)

Provides an overview of Kohlberg's five stages of moral reasoning and Damon's levels of positive justice. Argues that a conditioning approach to moral development is inadequate, suggesting teaching methods for facilitating moral development based on helping children understand principles and reasons. (RH)

This article examines positions by diverse philosophers (the ancient Stoics and the contemporary moral and political philosopher John Rawls) and shows the relevance of their disagreement concerning moral development. The position produced from this disagreement is then applied to two features of giftedness, sensitivity to justice and desire for…

Moral development theory has much to offer in the classroom and other informed discussions, but the moral development approach to education should depart from the Kohlberg model and examine the actual role of rules and principles in human conduct and recognize the impact of economic and psychological motivation in the process of moral choice. (MSE)

This presentation: (1) outlines three educational approaches to moral development; (2) explains Piaget's stages of moral judgment; (3) reviews Piaget's ideas about the development of children's concepts of justice; and (4) discusses comments by contemporary educators concerning moral education and its implications. Outlined in Part I are character…

This study explored the relationship between children's sense of justice for a criminal offender and their cognitive level. Subjects were 60 children, 10 boys and 10 girls at each of the following developmental or cognitive levels: preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. Each child was individually pretested for cognitive…