Journal of Moral Education 

About: Journal of Moral Education is an academic journal published by Taylor & Francis. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Moral development & Moral disengagement. It has an ISSN identifier of 0305-7240. Over the lifetime, 1511 publications have been published receiving 31930 citations.

Selective Moral Disengagement in the Exercise of Moral Agency

Abstract: Moral agency has dual aspects manifested in both the power to refrain from behaving inhumanely and the proactive power to behave humanely. Moral agency is embedded in a broader socio-cognitive self-theory encompassing affective self-regulatory mechanisms rooted in personal standards linked to self-sanctions. Moral functioning is thus governed by self-reactive selfhood rather than by dispassionate abstract reasoning. The self-regulatory mechanisms governing moral conduct do not come into play unless they are activated and there are many psychosocial mechanisms by which moral self-sanctions are selectively disengaged from inhumane conduct. The moral disengagement may centre on the cognitive restructuring of inhumane conduct into a benign or worthy one by moral justification, sanitising language and exonerative social comparison; disavowal of personal agency in the harm one causes by diffusion or displacement of responsibility; disregarding or minimising the injurious effects of one's actions; and attributio...

The Effects of Classroom Moral Discussion upon Children's Level of Moral Judgment

Abstract: An experiment is reported on the effects of a moral education programme in schools. Children were pretested on Kohlberg's index of level of moral thinking. The experimental group was then given twelve hours of discussion of moral problems other than those used in Kolhberg's test spread over twelve weeks. Subsequent testing showed that the experimental group had had tended to move towards a higher level of thinking when compared with controls.

Citizenship, Diversity and Education: a philosophical perspective

Abstract: The concept of ‘education for citizenship’ contains a number of ambiguities and tensions, related to differing interpretations of the notion of ‘citizenship’. This paper explores some of the philosophical difficulties which arise from the task of trying to offer a substantial notion of ‘education for citizenship’ in the context of the diversity of a pluralistic democratic society. One of the central areas requiring attention by philosophers is an account of the public civic virtues which are ‘thick’ or substantial enough to satisfy the communal demands of citizenship, yet compatible with liberal demands concerning the development of critical rationality by citizens and satisfaction of the demands of justice relating to diversity. It is suggested that a wide ranging debate about these matters at the national level cannot be avoided if ‘education for citizenship’ is to be conducted defensibly and effectively.

A Neo-Kohlbergian Approach to Morality Research

Abstract: Kohlberg's work in moral judgement has been criticised by many philosophers and psychologists. Building on Kohlberg's core assumptions, we propose a model of moral judgement (hereafter the neo-Kohlbergian approach) that addresses these concerns. Using 25 years of data gathered with the Defining Issues Test (DIT), we present an overview of Minnesota's neo-Kohlbergian approach, using Kohlberg's basic starting points, ideas from Cognitive Science (especially schema theory), and developments in moral philosophy.

Moral education and character education: their relationship and roles in citizenship education

Abstract: Any democratic society must concern itself with the socialization of its citizens. This begins in childhood, and schools are critical to this process. The interrelations and roles of educating for character (character education, moral education) and educating for citizenship (citizenship education, civic education) are explored, largely in a North American context. It is argued that citizenship education necessarily entails character and moral formation, but this integration is hindered by negative stereotyping between the two fields. In addition, negative stereotyping between the fields of moral education and character education further complicates attempts at synthesis. Through explorations of each of these domains and their similarities and differences, it is concluded that the role of schools in fostering the development of moral citizens in democratic societies necessitates focus on moral development, broader moral and related character development, teaching of civics and development of citizenship s...