Call for Papers for Special Section on Moral Development

Special Section Editors: Daniel Lapsley and Gustavo Carlo

• April 15, 2012: submit letters of inquiry that outline the full manuscript
• June 1, 2012: initial decisions to invite full submissions
• September 1, 2012: full manuscript submissions due

The field of moral development has undergone dramatic change over the past decade. Although the field was once dominated by stage theories in the cognitive developmental tradition, it is now clear that the study of moral functioning has sparked a renascence of interest across a much broader spectrum of theoretical and empirical traditions; and across a spectrum of psychological disciplines, including the various neurosciences.

It is now possible to talk about a new generation of moral development research that folds into its domain topics of long interest to developmental science even though these have not been traditionally conceptualized as moral development constructs.

These include topics such as internal working models, event representations, theory of mind, autobiographical memory, self-regulation, genes, neurophysiology, temperament, emotions, socialization, culture, and self and personality development, among others. How these constructs are recruited for moral functioning is a pressing empirical question.

In addition, we need better specification of developmental trajectories. Are there normative developmental achievements in the moral domain, and how do they intersect with changing contexts of socialization?

This special section will focus on the development of constructs of broad relevance to moral functioning and moral formation across the lifespan. We particularly welcome submissions with longitudinal designs, diverse methodologies and populations.

Authors must first submit a letter of inquiry (not to exceed two pages) to the special section editors that outlines the topic, sample, methodology and summary of findings, in order to determine its suitability for the intentions of the special section.

Letters of inquiry that outline the full manuscript are due April 15, 2012 and may be submitted directly to either Daniel Lapsley or Gustavo Carlo.

Initial decisions to invite full submissions will be completed by June 1, 2012. Full manuscript submissions will be due September 1, 2012.

All invited manuscripts will undergo the normal peer review process. Note that an initial invitation does not guarantee acceptance.

Full manuscripts should be prepared in strict accordance with APA guidelines and eventually submitted through the Developmental Psychology manuscript submission portal.