Final answer:
Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development explains that children evolve from a conventional stage with basic moral understanding to a conventional stage during adolescence, and finally to a post-conventional stage with a more abstract concept of morality. Carol Gilligan critiqued Kohlberg's model, suggesting it had a gender bias, and proposed that males and females have different moral perspectives based on justice and care, respectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lawrence Kohlberg developed a theory of moral development that comprises three main levels: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional. Initially, in the conventional stage, children experience the world sensually, without a complex moral understanding, which evolves over time. As they enter adolescence, they reach the conventional stage, where they become aware of others' feelings and societal norms. Finally, in the post-conventional stage, individuals develop the ability to think abstractly about moral principles and recognize that legality and morality are not always aligned.
Carol Gilligan, a researcher working with Kohlberg, noted that his theory may exhibit gender bias as it was based on studies with only male participants. She proposed that males and females have different moral perspectives, with males often applying a justice perspective focused on rules, while females apply a care and responsibility perspective, emphasizing relationships and social connectedness in their moral reasoning.
Overall, these theories by Kohlberg and Gilligan provide a framework for understanding how adolescents develop morally and cognitively alongside social and legal constructs.