Revised edition of the author's Moral development & reality : beyond the theories of Kohlberg and Hoffman, published in 2010.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 283-327) and indexes.

1. Introduction.
Social Perspective Taking, Reversibility, and Morality.
The Right and the Good: The Moral Domain.
Introducing Chapters 3 through 10 --
2. Beyond Haidt's New Synthesis.
Three themes.
Conclusion and Critique --
3. "The Right" and Moral Development: Fundamental Themes of Kohlberg's Cognitive Developmental Approach.
Early Childhood Superficiality.
Beyond Early Childhood Superficiality.
Stages of Moral Judgment Development.
Evaluating Haidt's Challenge --
4. Kohlberg's Theory: A Critique and New View.
Background.
Kohlberg's Overhaul of Piaget's Phases.
Adult Moral Development in Kohlberg's Theory.
A Critique and New View.
Conclusion --
5. "The Good" and Moral Development: Hoffman's Theory.
The Empathic Predisposition.
Modes and Stages of Empathy.
Empathy and Prosocial Behavior: Cognitive Complications and Empathy's.
Limitations.
Empathy, Its Cognitive Regulation, and Affective Primacy.
The Empathic Predisposition, Socialization, and Moral Internalization.
Conclusion and Critique.
6. Moral Development, Moral Identity, and Prosocial Behavior
Prosocial Behavior: The Rescue --
Individual Differences in Prosocial Behavior.
Conclusion: A Spurious "Moral Exemplar" --
7. Understanding Antisocial Behavior.
Limitations of Antisocial Youths.
A Case Study --
8. Treating Antisocial Behavior.
The Mutual Help Approach.
Remedying the Limitations and Generating Synergy: The Cognitive Behavioral Approach.
Social Perspective-Taking for Severe Offenders --
9. Beyond the Theories: A Deeper Reality?
Two Case Studies.
A Deeper Reality?
Moral Insight, Inspiration, and Transformation.
Conclusion --
10. Conclusion.
Revisiting the Issue of Moral Motivation and Knowledge.
Moral Perception and Reality.

Moral Development and Reality explores the nature of moral development, human behavior, and social interconnections. The exploration elucidates the full range of moral development, from superficial perception to a deeper understanding and feeling through social perspective-taking. By comparing, contrasting, and going beyond the key theories of preeminent thinkers Lawrence Kohlberg, Martin Hoffman, and Jonathan Haidt, author John C. Gibbs tackles vital questions: What exactly is morality and its development? Can the key theoretical perspectives be integrated? What accounts for prosocial behavior, and how can we understand and treat antisocial behavior? Does moral development, including moments of moral inspiration, reflect a deeper reality?

This third edition of Moral Development and Reality is thoroughly updated, refined, and expanded. A major addition to this volume is the attention to the work of Jonathan Haidt, a prominent theorist who studies the psychological bases of morality across cultures and political ideologies. Gibbs is authoritative with respect to Kohlberg's, Hoffman's, and Haidt's theories, thanks in good measure to his privileged position, having worked or been acquainted with all three of these key figures for decades. A new foreword by David Moshman introduces the third edition, calling it "the most important contribution to the study of moral development since the turn of the century." Moral Development and Reality will have broad appeal across academic and applied disciplines, especially education and the helping professions. With its case studies and chapter questions, it also serves as a text in advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in social/developmental psychology and human development.