Updating Moral Development Theory

One of the great strengths of contemporary work in moral development is its lifespan orientation and the long legacy of theory and research on which contemporary scholars can draw. Moreover, there has been a recent resurgence of interest in the development of moral character and moral personality that derives, in part, from a realization of how the growth of moral awareness is tied to the development of self, identity, and personality. This work, to which speakers at this symposium have been made seminal contributions, has important applications to the field of moral education and to formal and informal efforts to strengthen the development of virtuous character.