PSY 3350 Ch. 11 - Moral Development

What is Theory of Mind?

Understanding that people have mental states such as desires, beliefs, and intentions that guide their behavior.

What is the significance of the false belief task?

It is important for empathy and prosocial behavior.

What are the age achievements in Theory of Mind from birth to age 2?

Joint attention, understanding of intentions, pretend play, imitation, emotional understanding.

What psychological understanding is achieved by age 2?

Desire psychology.

What psychological understanding is achieved by age 4?

Belief-desire psychology.

What understanding is developed by age 5 and beyond?

Understanding of second-order beliefs, sarcasm, and different views of reality.

What are the three basic components of morality?

Emotional component, cognitive component, and behavioral component.

How do moral emotions influence behavior?

Moral emotions drive moral behavior.

What is empathy?

Vicarious experiencing of another's emotions that can motivate prosocial behavior.

Who proposed the Cognitive Developmental Theory of moral development?

Lawrence Kohlberg.

What is more important than the decision itself in Kohlberg's theory?

The thinking process involved.

What characterizes the Punishment-and-Obedience Orientation stage?

Goodness or badness of an act depends on the consequences.

What is the focus of Instrumental Hedonism in moral development?

Conforming to rules to gain rewards or satisfy personal needs.

What defines 'Good Boy' or 'Good Girl' morality?

What is right is what pleases, helps, or is approved by others.

What does Authority and Social-Order Maintaining stage emphasize?

What is right conforms to the rules of legitimate authorities and is good for society.

What is the Social Contract stage in Kohlberg's theory?

Laws serve a purpose and should be arrived at through a democratic consensus.

What defines the Individual Principles of Conscience stage?

Individual defines right and wrong based on self-generated principles that demonstrate respect for all.

What are some criticisms of Kohlberg's theory?

Underestimates children's moral sophistication, fails to recognize cultural differences, neglects intuition/emotion.

What did Gilligan's Stages of the Ethic of Care focus on?

Gender role norms influence moral reasoning, with boys focusing on justice and girls on care/compassion.

What is the goal of the Preconventional stage in Gilligan's theory?

Caring as survival, where individuals only care for self to ensure survival.

What transition occurs in the Conventional stage of Gilligan's theory?

From goodness to truth that she is a person too.

What principle is emphasized in the Postconventional stage of Gilligan's theory?

Principle of nonviolence, understanding the choice between own needs and care for others.

What do cross-cultural studies suggest about postconventional reasoning?

It is more common in western societies, while collectivist cultures often remain at stage 3 conventional.

What does the Evolutionary Theory suggest about prosocial behavior?

Engaging in prosocial behavior benefited our ancestors, especially towards kin to pass on genes.