Cognitive Theories of Moral Development: Piaget and Kohlberg

Premoral Stage

Ages 0-5, little concern for rules.

Moral Realism

Ages 5-11, respect for rules, inflexible application.

Moral Absolutism

Belief in absolute right or wrong.

Imminent Justice

Belief that rule deviation leads to punishment.

Egocentrism

Inability to see others' perspectives.

Morality of Reciprocity

Ages 11+, rules can be questioned and altered.

Justice and Equality

Belief in fairness for all individuals.

Intentions in Punishment

Punishment relates to intentions and transgressions.

Cross-Cultural Variation

Differences in moral development stages across cultures.

Underestimated Abilities

Piaget underestimated young children's moral reasoning.

Mixed Action Outcome

Confusion between action consequences and actor's intention.

Kohlberg's Dilemma

Moral dilemmas used to study moral development.

Heinz's Dilemma

Scenario exploring moral reasoning about stealing.

Moral Reasoning

The process of determining right from wrong.

Developmental Sequence

General progression of moral reasoning stages.

Consequential Evaluation

Assessing morality based on outcomes of actions.

Psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg

Developer of a theory on moral development.

Moral Dilemmas

Situations requiring moral judgment and reasoning.

Reasoning Behind Choices

Focus on rationale, not just the decision.

Childhood Moral Development

Evolution of moral understanding from childhood.

Pre-conventional level

Moral reasoning based on avoiding punishment and gaining rewards.

Stage 1: Obedience Orientation

Focus on avoiding punishment through obedience.

Stage 2: Instrumental Orientation

Behavior driven by self-interest and rewards.

Conventional Level

Moral decisions based on social norms and expectations.

Stage 3: Good-boy Morality

Moral behavior driven by interpersonal approval.

Stage 4: Social System Morality

Morality based on authority and societal rules.

Post-Conventional Level

Moral reasoning based on internal ethical principles.

Stage 5: Social Orientation

Morality based on social contracts and group welfare.

Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles

Morality based on abstract principles like justice.

Kohlberg's Theory Evaluation

More support than Piaget; considers gender differences.

Moral Judgment Interview (MJI)

Assessment of moral reasoning through structured interviews.

Denton & Krebs Study

Study on alcohol's effect on moral judgment.

Moral Maturity

Ability to make consistent moral judgments.

Promoting Moral Reasoning

Advancement through consistent discipline and reasoning.

Moral Behaviour in Children

Young children's judgments may not predict behavior.

Self Regulation

Ability to control behavior independently.

Control Phase

Dependent on caregivers for behavior reminders.

Self-Control Phase

Compliance with expectations without caregiver presence.

Self-Regulation Phase

Using strategies to manage behavior independently.

Delayed Gratification

Postponing immediate pleasure for future reward.

The Marshmallow Test

Experiment measuring children's ability to delay gratification.

Moral Decision Making

Process of evaluating right and wrong actions.

Social Norms

Expectations that guide behavior in society.

Interpersonal Norms

Expectations based on relationships with others.

Authority and Morality

Rules established to maintain social order.

Cultural Group Morality

Adherence to contracts benefiting group members.

Personal Moral Code

Individual principles guiding ethical decisions.

Low Self-Regulation

Inability to control behavior without external prompts.

Higher Level Moral Behavior

Modeling complex moral reasoning for children.

Marshmallow Test

Experiment measuring children's delay of gratification.

Delay of Gratification

Ability to resist immediate rewards for larger rewards.

Self-Control

Ability to regulate emotions and behaviors over time.

Warm Parenting Styles

Parenting characterized by support and open communication.

Prosocial Behaviours

Actions intended to benefit others or society.

Altruistic Behaviours

Helping others without expecting rewards or recognition.

Infant Social Evaluation

Infants assess characters based on prosocial actions.

Hamlin et al. Study

Research on infants' preferences for helpers over hinderers.

Instrumental Aggression

Aggression aimed at obtaining possessions or toys.

Hostile Aggression

Aggression intended to harm another person emotionally.

Relational Aggression

Aggression that damages social relationships or reputations.

Developmental Stability

Consistency of behaviors over time in children.

Long-Term Goals

Future objectives that require patience to achieve.

Temptation Reduction

Strategies to minimize attraction to immediate rewards.

Parent-Child Interaction

Dialogue-focused discussions about discipline and behavior.

Temperament Influence

Innate personality traits affecting self-control levels.

Coping Strategies

Methods children use to resist temptation.

Social Preferences

Tendency to favor prosocial individuals over antisocial ones.

Moral Development

Evolution of understanding right and wrong in children.

Aggression Types

Different forms of aggressive behavior exhibited by children.

Cognitive Development

Growth of thinking and reasoning abilities in children.

Emotional Regulation

Managing emotional responses to situations or stimuli.

Childhood Altruism

Early signs of helping behaviors in infants.

Reward Evaluation

Assessment of benefits versus costs in decision-making.

Social Learning

Learning behaviors through observation of others.

Behavioral Observation

Recording actions to analyze behavior patterns.

Developmental Milestones

Key behaviors expected at certain ages in children.

Peer Interaction

Social exchanges between children of similar age.