Origins of Morality: Infants and Toddlers

Flashcards covering key concepts and findings related to the origins of morality in infants and toddlers as presented in the lecture.

What is the traditional view of morality development according to Kohlberg and Piaget?

Morality develops in stages as we age.

How do junior members of society learn morality?

They internalize lessons taught by senior members of society.

What is the significance of cooperation in contemporary evolutionary views of morality?

Cooperation has adaptive value and helps identify 'good' and 'bad' individuals.

List three moral principles highlighted in cross-cultural comparisons.

1. Don't harm others! 2. Treat everyone fairly! 3. Respect authority!

What are the five components of Moral Foundations Theory proposed by Haidt and Joseph?

Care, Authority, Fairness, Loyalty, Purity.

What does the Care/Harm principle emphasize in moral foundations?

It emphasizes protecting others and avoiding harm.

How does the Fairness principle relate to moral actions?

It involves treating parties equally and the concept of reciprocity.

What does the Loyalty principle emphasize in moral foundations?

Being supportive of groups you belong to, especially in an 'us versus them' context.

What role does authority play according to Moral Foundations Theory?

Subordinates show respect to authority figures who provide protection.

How is the Purity principle characterized in moral foundations?

It relates to feelings of disgust, often without real harm occurring.

What evidence suggests that infants have a basic understanding of morality?

Infants as young as 6- and 10-month-olds preferentially choose helpers over hinderers.

What do infants prefer in the Manual Choice Task according to Hamlin et al.?

Infants prefer to reach for the helper over the hinderer.

What findings indicate infants' understanding of intent versus outcome?

By 8 months, infants tend to privilege intention in their moral evaluations.

What does Hamlin’s research show regarding infants and ethical scenarios?

Infants evaluate the character's intentions rather than just the outcomes.

What moral evaluation consideration can be inferred from the stealing medication example?

Moral evaluations consider the context of actions such as intent versus outcome.

What did the studies by Fenson et al. and Bloom et al. reveal about infants’ understanding of moral language?

Infants begin to understand and use terms like 'good' and 'bad' by 13 to 30 months.

How do infants respond to fairness in resource distribution as observed by Geraci & Surian?

Younger infants prefer equal distribution and show surprise at unequal distributions.

What does the term "social ≠ moral" signify in the context of infant morality?

It indicates that moral evaluations are distinct and involve deeper implications than mere social behaviors.

What can be concluded about infants' moral evaluations and their implications?

Infants consider intention and context in their evaluations, suggesting a budding understanding of morality.