Moral Development and Reality

For advanced undergraduate and graduate students in the social and behavioral sciences, counseling, and education, as well as scholars in these disciplines.

Moral Development and Reality: Beyond the Theories of Kohlberg and Hoffman explores the nature of moral development, social behavior, and human interconnectedness. By comparing, contrasting, and going beyond the works of...
More Description

For advanced undergraduate and graduate students in the social and behavioral sciences, counseling, and education, as well as scholars in these disciplines.

Moral Development and Reality: Beyond the Theories of Kohlberg and Hoffman explores the nature of moral development, social behavior, and human interconnectedness. By comparing, contrasting, and going beyond the works of preeminent theorists Lawrence Kohlberg, Martin Hoffman, and others, author John C. Gibbs addresses fundamental questions: What is morality? Can we speak of moral development? Is the moral motivation of behavior primarily a matter of justice or of empathy? What accounts for prosocial behavior, and how can we understand and treat antisocial behavior? Does moral development, including moments of moral inspiration, reflect a deeper reality? 

Moral Development and Reality elucidates the full range of moral development from superficial perception to a deeper understanding and feeling through social perspective-taking. Providing case studies and chapter questions, Gibbs creates a unique framework for understanding Kohlberg's and Hoffman's influential contributions.