PSYCH 2620

Moral Development

Course Description

Course information provided by the 2025-2026 Catalog.

Why and how do humans become moral beings? And what is a moral being anyways? Humans have written about these questions for as long as they have written about any deep question. Over the past century, however, empirical scientists have joined the investigation into moral development. This course will use empirical evidence to evaluate major theories of morality and its development. In the process, we will learn about topics like: cultural differences and similarities in moral orientations, the origins of helping and harming, and the development of moral reasoning and emotions childhood to adulthood.

Prerequisites HD 1150 or HD 1170 or HD 1130 or PSYCH 1101.

Distribution Requirements (KCM-AG), (KCM-HE)

Last 4 Terms Offered 2024SP

Learning Outcomes

• Understand major theories of moral development.
• Know key studies and findings about moral development, and how these support or challenge theoretical positions.
• Learn to succinctly summarize and reflect on empirical and theoretical articles on morality and moral development.

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