This paper is a comprehensive review of psychological literature concerning the issue of
morality in psychological research. Though the emphasis is on psychological constructs
the first chapter offers philosophical and sociological views on morality. In the second
chapter Kohlberg’s stage sequence theory is explained from its origins in Piaget’s work
to various criticisms of the theory. The second chapter also provides extensive
information about measurement and the different approaches popular in psychological
literature. The last part in the second chapter links other constructs like socioeconomic
status, grade point average, collectivism, and psychoticism to moral reasoning. The third
chapter concludes the paper with a review of the most important thoughts on morality and
states the need for further research in special areas.
Table of Contents
[I] Introduction
[II] Background Ideas and Issues
[A] Philosophy
(i) Kant, metaphysics of morals, and critique of practical reason
(ii) Good will
(iii) Doubt of empirical usefulness
(iv) Categorical imperative
(v) Hegel’s challenge
(vi) A theory of justice
(vii) Recent developments
[B] Sociological Perspective
[III] Psychological Approaches – Theory
[A] Developmental Stages
[B] Piaget and Moral Development of Children
[C] Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development
[D] Kohlberg’s Critics
(i) Gender differences
(ii) Piagetian criticism
(iii) Value differentiation as stage transition
(iv) Objective measurement
[E] Response to Critics
[F] State of the Field
[IV] Psychological Approaches – Measurement
[A] Kohlberg’s Scoring System
(i) History of stage scoring
(ii) Structural issue scoring
(iii) Standard issue scoring
[B] Defining Issue Test (DIT)
(i) Reliability
(ii) Validity
(iii) Faking DIT scores
(iv) Relation to verbal ability
[C] Morally Debatable Behaviors Scale
[D] Moral Orientation Scale using Childhood Dilemmas (MOS)
(i) Reliability
(ii) Validity
[E] Moral Dilemma Questionnaire (MDQ)
(i) Reliability
(ii) Validity
[V] Moral Judgment and Beyond – Correlations with other Constructs
[A] Sociological Variables and Psychological Traits
(i) Socioeconomic status (SES)
(ii) Personality traits
(iii) Social perspective taking
(iv) Collectivism
(v) Grade point average
[B] Religious Aspects in Moral Reasoning
[C] Cultural Differences
[D] Applications of Moral Judgement Research
[VI] Conclusion
Objectives and Research Themes
This paper provides a comprehensive review of the psychological literature regarding morality in research, focusing on the evolution of cognitive stage theories and the associated measurement methodologies. The primary research goal is to describe, as value-freely as possible, the development, current state, and criticisms of the field, bridging the gap between philosophical origins and modern psychological analysis.
- Philosophical foundations of morality from Kant to Rawls.
- Kohlberg’s stage sequence theory and its psychological developments.
- Critical perspectives, including the morality of care and cross-cultural validity.
- Methodological analysis of moral reasoning measurement tools.
- Correlational factors including socioeconomic status, personality traits, and social perspective taking.
Excerpt from the Book
(i.) Kant, metaphysics of morals, and critique of practical reason.
Although there are certainly other philosophers earlier than Kant who tried to explain morality from a cognitive understanding, the age of enlightenment (at the end of the 17th century in Europe) with Rene Descartes, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Kant, set the social circumstances for broader acceptance of theories concerning moral judgement.
For earlier to Kant the church and its view dominated all kind of thinking therefore also the philosophy. This shall not be understood as a church criticism, since there have been many great philosophers among the church as well. Namely Thomas de Aquinas with his view of divine laws modified by human society set the climax of Christian philosophy.
However, the first comprehensive philosophical work in the age of enlightenment was Kant’s “Foundations of the Metaphysics of Morals” in 1785. In 1788 he published the “Critique of Practical Reason”. These two publications contain Kant’s thoughts of morality and are regarded as one piece of work (Kant, 1990).
In Greek philosophy a division in three sciences was erected. This division was still in acceptance when Kant started his writing. These three sciences are physics, ethics, and logic (Kant, 1990). This division is based on the idea that all knowledge is either material, concerning some objects, or formal, occupied with the form of thinking only. The material sciences are divided into two groups: physics and ethics. This is because either laws of nature or laws of freedom are concerned, respectively. It is material, however, because not only form of the laws matter but their content as well. Herein Kant also sets the reason for empirical confirmation of the science of ethics. Because the science of ethics wants to understand the human will, it is determined to assess the effect of nature [environment, biological influences] on human will. This has to be done with empirical measures. Therefore this science may be called empirical.
Summary of Chapters
[I] Introduction: This chapter defines moral judgement as a central psychological issue and outlines the paper's goal of exploring its philosophical origins and psychological development.
[II] Background Ideas and Issues: This chapter reviews philosophical foundations including Kantian ethics and Rawlsian justice, as well as sociological perspectives on how morality is embedded in society.
[III] Psychological Approaches – Theory: This chapter examines the evolution of stage theories, starting from Piaget’s work through Kohlberg’s structuralism and the subsequent critical responses.
[IV] Psychological Approaches – Measurement: This chapter provides an overview of quantitative tools such as the Defining Issues Test (DIT) and the Moral Dilemma Questionnaire (MDQ) used to assess moral reasoning.
[V] Moral Judgment and Beyond – Correlations with other Constructs: This chapter discusses how socioeconomic status, personality traits, and cultural background correlate with an individual's moral stage development.
[VI] Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the evolution of the field from content-based to formal reasoning approaches and suggests future directions for empirical research.
Keywords
Moral Judgment, Lawrence Kohlberg, Immanuel Kant, Stage Theory, Piaget, Moral Development, Defining Issues Test, Sociomoral Perspective, Justice vs. Care, Socialization, Self-control, Psychoticism, Cultural Differences, Ethics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper provides a comprehensive review of the psychological literature concerning the issue of morality, specifically tracking the history and critical debate surrounding moral judgement.
What are the central thematic fields discussed?
The work covers philosophical roots, psychological stage theories, empirical measurement techniques, and the influence of external factors like sociology and religion on moral reasoning.
What is the primary aim or research question?
The aim is to describe the development, current state, and criticisms of moral judgement research as objectively as possible without attempting to resolve the ongoing theoretical disputes.
Which scientific methods are analyzed in the paper?
The paper reviews interview-based scoring systems like Kohlberg’s, as well as standardized psychometric tests such as the Defining Issues Test (DIT), the Moral Orientation Scale (MOS), and the Moral Dilemma Questionnaire (MDQ).
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main sections move from philosophical backgrounds into developmental psychology, detailed evaluations of Kohlberg’s theory and his critics, and an investigation into the correlations between moral reasoning and other traits like SES or personality.
What key terms characterize the research?
Keywords include Moral Judgment, Stage Theory, Kohlberg, Piaget, Defining Issues Test, and social perspective taking, among others.
How does Kant’s work relate to Kohlberg's theory?
Kant’s philosophical emphasis on formal principles and pure reason serves as a conceptual foundation for Kohlberg’s structuralist model of moral judgement.
Why are cultural differences considered content-related?
The paper suggests that because Kohlberg’s theory focuses on the formal process of reasoning rather than specific moral contents, observed differences between cultures may stem from content variation rather than fundamental differences in moral logic.
- Quote paper
- Arnold Ackerer (Author), 1998, Moral Stage - A literature overview, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/21991
