Examined the reasoning of 31 preschoolers when resolving moral dilemmas. Children's resolutions and justifications were examined with regard to their care orientation or justice orientation. Found that children's answers revealed a care orientation or a justice orientation with equal frequency. At times, children could even accept both…

Discusses the limitations of Campbell and Christopher's literature on moral development and altruism, claiming that the authors based some of their conclusions on questionable definitions, incorrect assumptions about others' assertions and beliefs, and reference to a limited portion of prosocial behavior. Suggests that Kantian presuppositions play…

Discusses some uses of moral development theories in the teaching of journalism ethics. Presents theories proposed by developmental psychologists Lawrence Kohlberg and Carol Gilligan, along with some interpretations of them within journalism ethics instruction. (SR)

Administered Defining Issues Test (DIT) to three groups of adult male inmates (person, property, victimless offenders) in two categories (first offenders, recidivists) to compare their levels of moral development. Distribution of DIT scores was similar to those of nonfelonious samples. Findings suggest implications for treatment of offender…

Many propose an ethic of care as an alternative moral voice to justice. The article assesses the alternative by discussing the relationship between justice and caring in a successful moral life and distinguishing morally laudable caring from morally indifferent caring. It recommends blending caring and justice in one common voice. (SM)

Although many blame societal relativism for lack of moral vision, the term "moral education" is not being used with clarity and specificity. Confusing it with values/ethics/character training makes curricular application difficult. (SK)

Explores the role of environmental-values education in the curriculum and how it might contribute to the moral development of individual pupils and society. Looks, from a number of perspectives, at the possible contributions of environmental education and sets out a range of "sustainability values" that schools might consider promoting.…

Ethical and moral issues in the use of information and communication technologies include privacy, equal access, self-determination, and the notion of truth. The Information Society must use new technologies to promote human values and not allow the instrumentalization of human beings. (SK)

A literature review revealed what does not work in character education: lecturing, authoritative teaching styles, external codes of ethics, and lack of student participation in setting ethics agendas. What works are use of community context; enhanced school, family, and community environment; peer education; cooperative learning; and giving…

Invitational education is a theory of communicative practice stating that people construct ethical character through the messages they receive and give. An inviting ethical stance is based on respect, trust, optimism, and intentionality. (SK)

This essay explains and puts into theoretical perspective the rising interest in justice as an emotional virtue. Martin Hoffman's empathy theory is germane to this debate since it gives an essentially emotion-oriented account of moral development in general, as well as an explanation of the gradual bonding of empathy/sympathy with justice. While…

Ancient Chinese ideas of moral education could be said to have five main dimensions-- philosophical foundations, content, principles, methods and evaluation--which are described in this paper. An analysis of the fundamental features of Confucian thinking on moral education shows that it took the idea that human beings have a good and kind nature…

Age changes' measures of prosocial responding and reasoning were examined. Participants' reports of helping, empathy-related responding, and prosocial moral reasoning were obtained in adolescence (from age 15-16 years) and into adulthood (to age 25-26 years). Perspective taking and approval/interpersonal orientedstereotypic prosocial moral…

Theory and research regarding moral motivation has focused for decades on the roles of moral reasoning and, to some extent, moral emotion. Recently, however, several models of morality have positioned identity as an additional important source of moral motivation. An individual has a moral identity to the extent that he or she has constructed his…

Recently, experimental economists have become increasingly interested in behaviors relating to morality, and one of the main tools for examining these issues has been game theory. Even though developmental psychologists have investigated similar topics for decades, this research has found little resonance. Similarly, economists have only recently…