The Development of Morality

Moral development is examined from the perspective of the major theoretical approaches. The chapter begins with discussion of historical roots of the psychology of morality. The issues accorded greatest emphasis in each approach organize the remainder of the chapter. The first section reviews conceptions of morality based on the idea that character traits constitute morality. The next section deals with approaches emphasizing emotions and processes of internalization of morality. Then comes a discussion of theories proposing that there are substantive differences between females and males in moral orientations. Next attention is given to approaches emphasizing cultural differences in individualism and…