Abstract:
A sample of 50 male and female subjects ranging
in age from 12 to 73 were divided into three groups according
to the scale of maturity of moral judgment developed
by Lawrence Kohlberg. Subjects were also tested on a measure
of creativity developed by Torrance after the formulations
of Guilford in order to test the hypothesis that the re^-
lationship between creativity and maturity of moral judgment
is curvilinear. Researchers have failed to develop any
working hypothesis concerning the relationship between
creativity and moral judgment or postulate any consistent
theoretical framework concerning the possible relationship
between these two constructs. The empirical investigation
involved a scientific testing of a random selection of
elementary subjects9 high school adolescents, and creative
adults. Tests included Kohlberg8s Moral dilemmas and
Guilford's Product Improvement Task.
A trend analysis was conducted to reveal whether or
not a curvilinear relationship existed between the independent
variable (Moral Maturity Stages) and the de~
pe dent variable (creativity performance under each level).
Curvilinear trends were observed in two out of four
creativity subscales but were not statistically significant.
It was concluded that these contradictory findings
were due to the relatively small number of subjects tested,
the narrow range or moral judgment scores, and the limited
conception of creativity defined by the creativity measure
used (The Product Improvement Task).
It was suggested that an instrument assessing an
identity status would be most useful as well as a creativity
measure better suited for a theory of creativity essentially
developmental in perspective.
