Principles or process? An examination of Kohlberg's cognitive theory of mora development and Haan's interactionist critique

Type of content
Theses / Dissertations
Publisher's DOI/URI
Thesis discipline
Education
Degree name
Master of Education
Publisher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
English
Date
1985
Authors
Gray, Bryan A. J.
Abstract

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.

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Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
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All Rights Reserved