Who is known for studying moral development in children?

Lawrence Kohlberg is renowned for his work on moral development in children, which he expanded upon from Jean Piaget's initial theories. Kohlberg proposed a stage theory of moral reasoning that outlines how individuals progress through a series of stages in their understanding of morality. His stages emphasize the evolution of moral reasoning from a pre-conventional level, where decisions are based on consequences, to conventional levels that focus on societal rules, and finally to post-conventional levels, where individuals internalize ethical principles.

Kohlberg conducted extensive research, particularly through interviews in which he presented moral dilemmas to children and adolescents, analyzing how they justified their decisions. His findings contributed significantly to developmental psychology and have had lasting implications for education, parenting, and understanding moral reasoning across different ages. This makes him a key figure in the study of moral development in children, differentiating his contributions from those of other noted psychologists who focused on different aspects of human development or behavior.