Conflict Compromise Theory and Preference for Stages of Moral Reasoning

Abstract

Issues important in consideration at 4 stages of moral reasoning (2, 3, 4, 5) were rated by 35 male and 48 female college students in terms of likelihood of use under 3 instructional sets: by self, by others (fellow students), and most admired. As predicted from conflict-compromise theories, the Stage 2 issues were rated in the following order: others > self > most admired. No differences were found among Stage 3 issues, but Stages 4 and 5 were in the order most admired > self > others in terms of rated likelihood of use in resolving dilemmas. The results were interpreted as evidence that higher-stage issues are positively valued and that persons are motivated to be above average in their preferences for issues. The discussion suggests the choice-shift paradigm as an approach to the study of the ascents and declines of types of moral reasoning as a function of group discussion.