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After reviewing the properties of the cognitive-developmental stage concept which, heretofore, has been restricted in its use to child and adolescent development, adulthood stages for moral development are considered. In addition to discussing aspects of adult development in regard to moral Stages 5 and 6, an attempt is made to delineate a new Stage 7 which is unique to advanced adulthood and involves adoption of a religious and cosmic perspective. This new stage is related to Erikson's theory and suggests novel lines of “positive” adult and gerontological inquiries in a life-span developmental and philosophical perspective.
Lawrence Kohlberg (1973) studied this question.