Handbook of Moral Development

Melanie Killen, Judith G. Smetana

Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 2006 - Philosophy - 790 pages

The psychological study of moral development has expanded greatly, both in terms of the diversity of theoretical perspectives that are represented in the field, as well as in the range of topics that have been studied. This Handbook of Moral Development represents the diversity and multidisciplinary influences on current theorizing about the psychological study of moral development and the range and broad scope of topics being considered by scholars in the field. To highlight this diversity of topics, the book is organized around conceptual themes that reflect these different theoretical perspectives, and is divided into six parts:

* Structuralism and Moral Development Stages;

* Social Domain Theory and Social Justice;

* Conscience and Internalization;

* Social Interactional, Sociocultural, and Comparative Approaches;

* Empathy, Emotions, and Aggression; and

* Moral Education, Character Development, and Community Service.

This Handbook contains a wealth of information about how morality has been defined, studied, and examined in children, adolescents, and adults. The chapters provide detailed summaries of current theory and research in the field of moral development, and will be of interest to scholars, policy makers, educators, and professionals who work with children. In addition, the text will contribute to the continued liveliness of the scholarly discourse about moral development and to new advances in theorizing and research.

About the author

Judi Smetana has published six other books: Adolescents, Families, and Social Development: How Adolescents Construct Their Worlds (2011); Social Development, Social Inequalities, and Social Justice (2008, with Elliot Turiel and Cecilia Wainryb); New Directions for Child Development: Changing Boundaries of Parental Authority during Adolescence (2005); Handbook of Moral Development (2005, with Melanie Killen); Parental Beliefs: Causes and Consequences for Development: New Directions for Child Development (1994); and Concepts of Self and Morality: Women's Reasoning about Abortion (1982). She has published more than 70 articles in such journals as Child Development, Developmental Psychology, Human Development, Journal of Adolescence, Journal of Research in Adolescence, Journal of Family Psychology and Social Development. Smetana has served as Associate Editor of Child Development and on the editorial board of Child Development, Developmental Psychology, Human Development, Journal of Adolescent Research, Parenting: Science and Practice and Social Development. Her research has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Fetzer Foundation, the Spencer Foundation and the William T. Grant Foundation. Smetana is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychological Society and has served as Secretary of the Society for Research in Child Development. She was awarded the University of Rochester Susan B. Anthony Leadership Career Award.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Handbook of Moral Development
• Editors: Melanie Killen, Judith G. Smetana
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers, 2006
• ISBN: 0805847510, 9780805847512
• Length: 790 pages
• Subjects: Philosophy / Ethics & Moral Philosophy; Psychology / Developmental / General; Psychology / Developmental / Lifespan Development