Different types of moral cognition: Moral stages versus moral foundations

0191-8869/$ see front matter 2012 Elsevier Ltd. A http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2012.04.018 ⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 18438106828; fax E-mail addresses: [email protected] (G.L. Baril),wr Two measures of moral cognition were compared across three samples: Rest’s neo-Kohlbergian stages of moral developmental (DIT) and Graham and Haidt’s intuition-based Moral Foundations Theory (MFQ). In spite of differences both in theory and in measurement, there was considerable overlap between Stage 2/ 3 ‘‘personal interests’’ (DIT) and In-group (MFQ), as well as Stage 4 ‘‘maintaining norms’’ (DIT) and Authority (MFQ). Unexpectedly, Stages 5/6 ‘‘post-conventional’’ (DIT) was unrelated to Fairness and Harm (MFQ) in two of the three samples. However, participants’ prioritization of Fair/Harm over Authority/In-group/Purity was positively related to their post-conventional reasoning across all three samples. Also, for conservatives, Stage 4 reasoning decreased in the cognitive load/depletion sample, matching that of liberals. Conceptual, operational, and developmental implications of these findings are discussed. 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.