Moral Judgment and Development module (PY42009)

​​How does our morality develop and how does it operate? What kinds of things are morally relevant and how does this differ across individuals and cultures? What explanations do we have for why people engage in morally objectionable behaviour? And why do people also engage in extremely altruistic behaviour? This module gives you a thorough grounding in the psychology of morality and psychological theories and evidence in addressing these questions. 

​You will examine classical theories of moral development, before looking at how these contrast with more modern empirical work on morality in children and adults. Topics include dual-process theories (the relative roles of moral intuition and reasoning), pluralistic theories of morality and debates surrounding these (whether there are multiple distinct moral foundations), moral and social psychological theories of unethical behaviour, and how morality might change over time. 

​The module also engages with real-world contexts for morality, including wartime atrocity, corporate ethics, and moral perceptions of AI, encouraging you to think critically about the wider social and political landscape. Teaching is delivered through face-to-face lectures, guided seminars, and student-led discussions, with formative exercises to support engagement and in-class discussion. 

​What you will learn 

​In this module, you will: 

• ​Gain detailed understanding of classical and modern theories of moral development in childhood 
• ​Understand models of adult moral judgment and how they explain how morality operates 
• ​Evaluate competing theories by considering the evidence and empirical predictions they make 
• ​Understand how theories of moral judgment seek to explain sociopolitical and cultural diversity 
• ​Relate concepts from the module to real-world topics, including atrocity, corporate ethics, and the rise of AI 

​By the end of this module, you will be able to: 

• ​Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of core theories, debates, and developments in moral psychology 
• ​Articulate the relevant predictions of theoretical models and identify overlap and tensions between competing theories 
• ​Critically evaluate relevant research within moral psychology 
• ​Communicate consistent, evidence-supported arguments verbally and in writing 
• ​Engage with moral issues to demonstrate critical thinking about the wider social and political landscape​

Assignments / assessments

​​Coursework assignment (35%) 

• ​One written assignment (with opportunity for formative feedback) 

​Invigilated online exam (60%) 

• ​A two-hour on-campus exam delivered online 
• ​Students answer two equally-weighted questions from a pool of five or six 

​Attendance (5%) 

• ​Assessed attendance across the module​

Teaching methods / timetable

• ​​Face-to-face lectures
  • These blend instructor-led material with student-led discussions