Sixty children were exposed to moral arguments one or two stages above their dominant moral development stage as assessed on Kohlberg's scales. Results indicated overall change in moral concepts and attitudes, with role play procedures being no more effective than passive listening in producing change. (Author/SB)

This paper discusses a well-known problem of stage categorization within Kohlberg's theory of moral stages (L. Kohlberg, 1973), that of "Stage 4 1/2." Some subjects previously scored at stage 4 in Kohlberg's framework took on some characteristics of stage 2 reasoning, which suggested the possibility of regression. To reconcile this…

Describes the use of values clarification in teaching sixth graders health education. (BRB)

In a study of moral judgment, some children grasped the concept of behavioral intention but did not use it consistently (mediational deficiency); others had the concept but failed to use it at all (production deficiency); and still others did not have the concept (moral realism). Field dependence varied with moral stage. (Author/MJL)

Kohlberg's claim that moral development proceeds through an invariant sequence of stages was experimentally examined by attempting to induce regression and stage skipping in fifth- through seventh-grade children. Results supported Kohlberg's claim but also indicated that situations two stages above development were effective in inducing…

Defining moral imagining as the ability to universalize and to understand a situation from another person's perspective, the author discusses the conditions of learning to be imaginative, as well as the relations of moral imagining to sympathy, compassion, and concern. (Author/SJL)

Examines the justifications for paternalistic restrictions on children's rights. The reason given for restrictions is that children are more likely to harm themselves and cannot promote their own interests due to cognitive and moral deficiencies. The author shows that children are as competent as adults in making reasoned choices. (AM)

If education can be decentralized and parents and children given more choices in education, then efficient instruction and sound moral atmosphere can be restored to our public schools. (Author)

Young children's use of motives and outcomes as criteria for moral judgments was measured under three modes of story presentation and several different combinations of positive and negative motives and outcomes. Recall for the critical story information was also assessed. (Author/RH)

It is argued in this article that the need to find something certain to which to devote oneself is strongest among youth who are in a state of identity diffusion, and that the search for certainty in such a state is frequently for the genuine, the pure, and the enduring. (Author)

Examines the relationship between 35 preschoolers' moral reasoning about altruistic moral conflicts and their sharing, helping, and comforting in a naturalistic environment. (JMB)

This article criticizes A. W. Cragg's hidden values arguments and presses for explicit values education in the schools. (MM)

Investigates levels of moral reasoning among sex offenders court-ordered into a community-based treatment program. Comparison of the study sample to national normative data indicated that this sample of sex offenders was employing a level of moral reasoning two standard deviations lower than adults in general. Potential implications of the…

Examined negative consequences and their influence on ethical decisions by counselors at various stages of ethical development in 60 members of the American Psychological Association and the American Association for Counseling and Development. Showed empathy to be related to higher levels of ethical orientation. (Author/ABL)