Lecture 15 Moral Development

What is a general overview of Piaget’s Theory of Moral Judgment?

• 2 stages in children moral reasoning

• Moral reasoning changes from rigid acceptance of rule of authorities to modifiable moral rules related to social interactions.

• in younger children, outcome is more important than intention

• in older children, intention is seen as important

• described by qualitative change

Describe the heteronomous stage of morality

• children who have not reached concrete operation

• younger than 7 years

• rules and duties to others regardless as unchanged due to social and cognitive influence

• rigid acceptance of authorities’ rules

What is the transitional period of Piaget’s theory of moral judgement?

• children reaching concrete operational stage

• 7-10 yrs

• more interactions with peers

• developing abilities to perceive other’s perspective and cooperate

describe piaget’s stage of autonomous morality

• 11-12yrs

• rules based on social interaction

• moral relativism - no longer accept blind obedience to authority

• rules can be changed

What are critiques of Piaget’s theory?

• supported by research, but little support that peer interaction stimulates moral judgment

• young childrn incorporate intentionality into their judgments when it is made more obvious

• most 4-5 year olds understand that a person could not cause a negative outcome on purpose

Describe Kohlberg’s Thoery of Moral Reasoning

• interested in the sequences through which children’s moral reasoning

  • develops over time

  • proceeds through specific stages

    • discontinuous and hierarchical

    • advanced thinking with each new stage

• Heinz Dilemma used to asses moral reasoning

  • stealing drug to save his wife

What is the pre-conventional level in Kohlberg’s stages of moral reasoning?

The first stage, a self-centered, focusing on getting rewards and avoiding punishment

1. Stage 1 - punishment and obedience orientation

2. Stage 2 - instrumental and exchange orientation

What is the conventional level in Kohlberg’s stages of moral reasoning?

The second stage, Conventional level: centered on social relationships, focusing on compliance with social duties and laws

3. Stage 3: mutual interpersonal expectations, relationships, and interpersonal conformity

4. Stage 4: social system and conscience orientation

What is the post conventional level of the stages of moral reasoning?

• centered on ideals, focusing on moral principles

5. Stage 5: social contract or individual rights orientation

6. Stage 6: universal ethical principles

What are critique’s of Kohlberg’s theory?

• useful in understanding contribution of cognitive processes to moral behavior

  • However, not sufficient distinction between true moral issues and social convention

• Reasoning not continuous

• Theory based on studies of boys

Describe Gilligan’s Theory

• males and females differ in moral reasoning

• males value principle of justice and rights where females value caring and responsibility for others

• inconsistent - boys do not score higher than girls

• consistent - girls tend to exhibit more of the moral reasoning suggested by gillian

What os social domain theory of moral development?

• Growth in moral reasoning occurs through

  gradual changes based on child’s social

  interactions with peers and adults and

  through direct socialization from parents

• Differences in moral judgment are understood

  to result from differences in environments.

  Influence and relationships are bidirectional

According to the social domain theory of moral development, successful negotiation of social worlds requires understanding of principles in what three domains of social knowledge?

• moral domain

• societal domain

• personal domain

What is conscience? What does it do?

• regulatory mechanism that increases the individual’s ability to conform to standards of conduct accepted in his or her culture

• Restrains antisocial behavior or destructive impulses

• Promotes children’s compliance with adults’ rules and standards and adherence to cultural standards

• Fosters prosocial behavior

When does conscience develop?

• By age 2, children

  recognize moral

  standards; they exhibit

  guilt when they do

  something wrong

• fearless children show less guilt

What are two examples of prosocial behavior?

• Empathy - an emotional response to another’s state or condition that reflects other person’s state or condition

• Sympathy - feeling of concern for another in response to other’s

  emotional state or condition

What were the findings of the experiment with the shapes showing anti or pro social behavior going up the mountain?

10 months olds and even 4.5 month olds are surprised when the circle (antisocial) approaches the square rather than the triangle (prosocial)

What are the origins of prosocial behavior?

biological and genetic factors

How do parents socialize prosocial behavior in children?

• modeling and teaching prosocial behavior

• arranging opportunities for their children to engage in prosocial behavior

• disciplining their children

What is an example of antisocial behavior? when does it first occur?

Aggression - behavior aimed at harming or injuring others

• before 12 months of age

• 18 months physical aggression

What are the two types of agression? Define them.

• Instrumental Aggression - motivated by a desire to obtain a concrete goal

• Relational Aggression - intending to harm others by damaging peer relationships, leads to conduct disorders

What are the two main reasons for why someone may be aggressive?

• Reactive aggression - emotionally driven,

  antagonistic aggression sparked by one’s

  perception that other people’s motives are

  hostile

• Proactive Aggression - unemotional aggression

  aimed at fulfilling a need or desire

True or False:

Aggressive children tend to interpret the world

through an “aggressive” lens. They may evaluate aggressive responses more favorably.

true

What are some potential family origins for aggression?

• family influences

  • low quality parenting

  • poverty, neighborhood violence, and family stress

Describe the peer influence of aggression

• Having aggressive friends and being exposed to violence

• Peer pressure

• In cultures where there is less emphasis on adherence to adults standards, peers have a greater influence

What are possible interventions for aggressive and antisocial children?

• Individual psychotherapy

• Combination of psychotherapy and drug therapy

• Parent education and intervention

• School-based intervention

• Community-based programs

  • Positive youth development

  • Service learning