The measurement of individual differences in morality

•Kohlberg's model of moral development•Gilligan and the importance of care•Review of several measures of individual differences in morality•Challenges in the measurement of morality•Moral Foundations Theory and future directions

Within psychology many approaches have been taken to investigate morality. Arguably, the most prominent approach has been the use of moral reasoning, which is concerned with how individuals arrive at a decision on how they ought to behave. Kohlberg (1958) championed the empirical investigation of individual differences in moral reasoning and his early efforts continue to influence morality research today. This paper will review Kohlberg's seminal model of moral development and explore the assessments that have been created to measure the six stages of development described in this model. In addition, alternative morality theories and their most prominent assessments will be discussed, including the Neo-Kohlbergian approach, Gilligan's Moral Orientations Theory, and Moral Foundations Theory. In closing, the current state of morality assessments will be reviewed, along with recommendations for future development.