Moral Reasoning in Radical and Non-Radical German Students

Abstract

Ninety-one West German university students responded to Kohlberg's moral judgment interview, Q-sorts, TATs, and questions about background, political attitudes, and behavior patterns. Morally conventional Ss gave fewer liberal, non-authority-bound decisions on the moral interviews, were politically conventional, were less involved in political protests, went to church more often, studied practical applied subjects, had steady partners, and described themselves as relatively calm, fair, self-controlled, and orderly. Ss who were transi tional between conventional and principled morality were often politically radical, had tense relationships with parents, had been involved in physical fights, studied law or the humanities, lived alone, scored lower on n Affiliation, and described themselves as rebellious, argumentative, restless, doubting, and aloof. Principled Ss participated in radical activities, studied law or humanities, had tense relationships with parents, were less likely to live in dormitories, often lacked steady partners, and described themselves as talkative, genuine, authentic, self-confident, and yet tense. Considerable similarities exist between these results and findings in American studies.