Cognitive and motivational parallels in moral development.

Abstract
Two experiments examined parallels between Kohlberg''s cognitive developmental stages and a hierarchy of incentives based on Kohlberg''s motives for moral action aspect. Introductory psychology students were simultaneously administered 2 perceptual motor tasks in 1 of 3 treatment conditions. In each treatment the opportunity for greater monetary reward on 1 task conflicted with 1 of the following incentives for performance on the other task; interpersonal approval, meeting the expectations of authority and choice in favor of distributive equality. Stage 3 subjects on Kohlberg''s moral judgment scale performed better for the interpersonal approval incentive, while stage 4 subjects performed better to meet the expectations of authority. The effect for stage 4 was largely due to females. Post-conventional subjects responded in favor of distributive equality to a greater extent than conventional (stage 3 or stage 4) subjects. Another study included only stage 3 and stage 4 subjects and conflicted interpersonal approval directly with the expectations of authority. Results closely replicated those of the previous experiment. Motivational factors should probably be given greater consideration within the cognitive developmental approach to moral development.

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