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Abstract

This research investigates the moral psychological roots of morality; by looking at how human beings come to learn and polish their sense of right and wrong over the course of development. The emergence of moral conflict as a psychological property of the human mind is arduous and multi-faceted one, which has received much attention in psychology (Carlsmith & Darley, 2008), philosophy (Haidt & Joseph, 2004) and neuroscience. While much has been learned, the developmental processes by which morality arises in individuals and cultures how people make the moral decisions that they do remains a mystery. Based on the theories from Piaget, Kohlberg and more recent research from developmental psychology, this study explores the dynamics of moral development where cognitive, social and emotional dimensions are involved simultaneously. By examining empirical and experimental investigations through the lens of existing literature, this study attempts to understand to what extent socialization, empathy, as well as cognitive development influence moral choices. The results imply that moral development does not occur in a linear manner, nor through the cumulative effect of cause-and-effect relations. This article demonstrates how knowledge about moral evolution can be used in educational, conflict-reduction, and social-justice practice. These results provide insight regarding the development of ethical principles in one or more individuals and offer a direction for further research in moral psychology.
Keywords: moral development, ethical principles, cognitive development, empathy, socialization, psychological foundations, moral decision-making