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Moral Judgment and Moral Neuroscience: Intersections, Definitions, and Issues
Author(s) -
Killen Melanie,
Smetana Judith
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
child development perspectives
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1750-8606
pISSN - 1750-8592
DOI - 10.1111/j.1750-8606.2008.00033.x
Subject(s) - morality , psychology , moral development , moral disengagement , social cognitive theory of morality , moral reasoning , social psychology , epistemology , philosophy
—The moral neurosciences are an emerging area of research that has the potential to improve our understanding of the biological basis of morality. Thus far, however, research on moral neuroscience and moral judgment development has proceeded independently and with little interconnection. The current article discusses how morality has been defined and assessed in several new and prominent lines of research in the moral neurosciences and in research over the past 30 years on moral judgment development. It discusses how the 2 lines of research could be better integrated and points to strengths and limitations in the current field. Finally, suggestions are provided for further research.