Handbook of Moral Development

The Handbook of Moral Development is the definitive source of theory and  research on the origins and development of morality in childhood and  adolescence. It explores morality as fundamental to being human and  enabling individuals to acquire social norms and develop social  relationships that involve cooperation and mutual respect.

Since  the publication of the second edition, groundbreaking approaches to  studying moral development have invigorated debates about how to  conceptualize and measure morality in childhood and adolescence. The  contributors of this new edition grapple with these questions from  different theoretical perspectives and review cutting-edge research. The  handbook, edited by Melanie Killen and Judith G. Smetana, includes  chapters on parenting and socialization, values, emergence of prejudice  and social exclusion, fairness and access to resources, moral reasoning  and children’s rights, empathy, and prosocial behaviors. Morality is  discussed in the context of families, peers, schools, and culture.  Thoroughly updated and expanded, the third edition features new chapters  on the following:
Morality in infancy and early childhoodCognitive  neuroscience perspectives on moral developmentSocial responsibility in  the context of social and racial justiceConceptions of economic and  societal inequalitiesStereotypes, bias, and discriminationVictimization  and bullying in peer contexts
Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature  of the study of moral development, this edition contains contributions  from sixty scholars in developmental science, social neuroscience,  comparative and evolutionary psychology, and education, representing  research conducted around the world. This book will be essential reading  for scholars, educators, and students who are in the field of moral  development, as well as social scientists, public health experts, and  clinicians who are concerned with children and development.