A Conceptual Analysis of Cognitive Moral Development and Altruistic Behavior in the Work place
Pei-Hsun China, Shih Yung Chou

Abstract
This article provides a novel theoretical analysis of altruistic behavior in the context of cognitive moral development. Specifically, we apply Kohlberg’s cognitive moral development theory and examine the relationship between an individual’s moral developmental level and the individual’s altruistic behavior. Our theoretical analysis suggests that individuals at the pre-conventional level of moral development will demonstrate no or low levels of altruistic behavior and individuals at the post-conventional level of moral development will demonstrate high levels of altruistic behavior. Given that workplace morality has become one of the important topics in organizational studies, this article provides important implications for theory and managerial practice.

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