Moral development: The views of Carol Gilligan and Norma Haan

Psychologists Carol Gilligan and Norma Haan extended Kohlberg’s views to emphasize the interpersonal aspects of moral development. Gilligan (1977) argued that moral reasoning can be based on caring for others as well as the principle of justice. Through interviews with women about their moral thought processes, Gilligan found that their reasoning revolved around taking responsibility for others, negotiating personal and others’ personal interests, and a concern not to hurt others. Haan considered that Kohlberg’s use of hypothetical moral dilemmas to evaluate moral reasoning was not as important to individuals as the evaluation of moral reasoning in specific social contexts. Haan believed that personal experiences with moral dilemmas and opportunities for discussion and balance among all those involved were crucial to enhancing moral development. Haan’s three phases of ethics – assimilation, accomodation, equilibration- reflect the interpersonal nature of moral reasoning. In the assimilation phase, individuals interpret their experiences in relation to their needs and interests. In the second phase, individuals still recognize their own interests, but compromise to take into account the needs and interests of others. The equilibration phase is achieved when an individual is able to distinguish and integrate at the same time the personal interest, the interests of others and the mutual interests. Source: “Human Motor Development” -A Lifespan approach (Greg Payne, Larry Isaacs) Recent Articles