Controversy regarding moral development research has given rise
to a proliferation of theories competing for acceptance. For all
these researchers, the work of Lawrence Kohlberg is the pivot point
for comparisons, contrasts, and discussions. Still, no theories to
date adequately describe and document a theoretically complete conception
of moral judgment and behavior. The contention in this thesis is
that Kohlberg's moral development theory should remain the base-camp
for further exploration but concepts from the past as well as new components
from other fields should be added to construct a better model
of human moral thinking and behaving. This thesis formulates a comprehensive
and more adequate moral development theory which fits
existing data. Pertinent aspects of past and present moral theories
are summarized. Theories are evaluated in light of knowledge gained
from past thinkers and recent research. Inadequacies are discussed.
New pieces from psychological personality theories are presented to
replace the normally accepted concept of a unitary ego theory. A more
realistic model of growth as a spiral development process is presented.
This spiral model allows features of the invariant stage
sequence and step-wise hierarchial development process, critical to
Piaget's cognitive development theory and to Kohlberg's justice-oriented
moral development theory, to exist while couched in a broader
growth process that encompasses the pertinent additional features of
other researchers' works. The newly constructed theory is presented.
Documented case materials and portions of counseling sessions are used
to show some adequacy-of-fit of aspects of this theory. / Graduation date: 1992
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/36864 |
| Date | 10 October 1991 |
| Creators | Armstrong, Carolyn Sue |
| Contributors | Firth, James |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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