Moral Psychology 101
Moral psychology is a discipline that focuses on psychological and ethical issues in the practice of psychology, and it also studies human functioning in many different moral circumstances
Content
Moral Psychology 101
Moral psychology is a discipline that focuses on psychological and ethical issues in the practice of psychology, and it also studies human functioning in many different moral circumstances. The term ‘moral psychology’ is used in psychology and philosophy respectively using different methodologies. In psychology, it often relates to theories of development of moral thinking such as those described by Jean Piaget and Lawrence Kohlberg. In philosophy, it refers to the examination of human psychology and its relevance to moral inquisitions. Moral psychology focuses on revealing the factors that influence moral judgment and behavior in human society. Professionals of psychology strive to gain a thorough understanding of these factors to determine the concepts that would promote good behavior and improve bad behavior. In philosophy, moral psychology may act as a guiding force when differentiating between opposing ethical theories. Historical Origins Moral psychology was a core component of the philosophical activities in the Middle Ages and of the works of Aristotle and Plato. Both infamous Greek philosophers conducted empirical research and a theoretical analysis of how people make decisions related to issues that prompt concerns regarding moral actions. From ancient times to the modern era, philosophers have concentrated on moral psychological issues in both the fields of psychology and philosophy.
Topics within moral psychology often involve the mind and are related to moral and ethical behavior. Major areas of study include moral development, moral reasoning, moral judgment, moral responsibility, moral character, moral disagreement, moral luck, psychological egoism and altruism. Studies of moral psychology often include three standard dimensions: a theoretical representation of the soul, an ethical theory of what constitutes a good soul, and a realistic or beneficial technique for attempting to achieve a good soul. Areas of Study One wellknown concept related to moral psychology is Kohlberg’s stages of moral development, which was adapted from Piaget’s moral development theory. The theory states that moral reasoning is the backbone of ethical behavior and includes six developmental stages in which each stage constitutes a better ability to respond to moral issues than the previous stage. The stages are divided into three levels with two stages within each level: PreConventional (Punishment Obedience Orientation and SelfInterest Orientation), Conventional (Interpersonal Accord and Conformity and Authority and SocialOrder Orientation), and PostConventional (Social Contract Orientation and Universal Ethical Principles). Professionals in the Field Besides Piaget and Kohlberg, a variety of other psychologists are known for their work in the field of moral psychology such as A. Peter Mcgraw, Elliot Turiel, Linda Skitka, Daniel Batson, Jonathan Haidt, Marc Hauser, Philip Tetlock, and Joshua D. Greene.
Moral psychology is a discipline that focuses on psychological and ethical issues in the practice of psychology, and it also studies human functioning in many different moral circumstances. The term ‘moral psychology’ is used in psychology and philosophy respectively using different methodologies. In psychology, it often relates to theories of development of moral thinking such as those described by Jean Piaget and Lawrence Kohlberg. In philosophy, it refers to the examination of human psychology and its relevance to moral inquisitions. Moral psychology focuses on revealing the factors that influence moral judgment and behavior in human society. Professionals of psychology strive to gain a thorough understanding of these factors to determine the concepts that would promote good behavior and improve bad behavior. In philosophy, moral psychology may act as a guiding force when differentiating between opposing ethical theories. Historical Origins Moral psychology was a core component of the philosophical activities in the Middle Ages and of the works of Aristotle and Plato. Both infamous Greek philosophers conducted empirical research and a theoretical analysis of how people make decisions related to issues that prompt concerns regarding moral actions. From ancient times to the modern era, philosophers have concentrated on moral psychological issues in both the fields of psychology and philosophy.
Topics within moral psychology often involve the mind and are related to moral and ethical behavior. Major areas of study include moral development, moral reasoning, moral judgment, moral responsibility, moral character, moral disagreement, moral luck, psychological egoism and altruism. Studies of moral psychology often include three standard dimensions: a theoretical representation of the soul, an ethical theory of what constitutes a good soul, and a realistic or beneficial technique for attempting to achieve a good soul. Areas of Study One wellknown concept related to moral psychology is Kohlberg’s stages of moral development, which was adapted from Piaget’s moral development theory. The theory states that moral reasoning is the backbone of ethical behavior and includes six developmental stages in which each stage constitutes a better ability to respond to moral issues than the previous stage. The stages are divided into three levels with two stages within each level: PreConventional (Punishment Obedience Orientation and SelfInterest Orientation), Conventional (Interpersonal Accord and Conformity and Authority and SocialOrder Orientation), and PostConventional (Social Contract Orientation and Universal Ethical Principles). Professionals in the Field Besides Piaget and Kohlberg, a variety of other psychologists are known for their work in the field of moral psychology such as A. Peter Mcgraw, Elliot Turiel, Linda Skitka, Daniel Batson, Jonathan Haidt, Marc Hauser, Philip Tetlock, and Joshua D. Greene.
