Principles or process? An examination of Kohlberg's cognitive theory of mora development and Haan's interactionist critique
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Lawrence Kohlberg has recently, after 25 years work on moral development theory, updated and adjusted his theory. The contemporary presentation is outlined. At the same time, Norma Haan, after a similar period of less sustained, but equally matured consideration, has presented her fully articulated proposals for an interactional morality. Her theory is presented and then discussed in terms of the most common criticisms of Kohlberg's theory: its liberal, Western, male bias; its structural limitations; and its depreciation of moral action. Haan's suggestions in these areas are considered and then her overall contribution is evaluated. The verdict is that her effort makes a major contribution to breaking away from the cognitive-developmental paradigm, but is incomplete since Haan allows that paradigm to dictate the agenda. Haan has furthered our understanding of moral growth but has failed to provide a comprehensive theory.