Lecture 9: Moral Development

Define morality

set of principles or ideals that help an individual distinguish right and wrong AND act on this decision

What are the two aspects of morality?

1. Moral affect

2. Moral reasoning

Define moral affect

Feeling associated with morality (emotions such as empathy, guilt, shame)

Define moral reasoning

Thought associated with morality

In Kohlberg’s moral dilemmas, each dilemma involves a choice between:

1. Obeying a rule, law or authority figure

2. Taking some action that conflicts with rules but serves a human need

What are the three broad levels to development of moral reasoning?

1. Preconventional

2. Conventional

3. Postconventional

What age would be preconventional moral reasoning?

4-10 years

What age would be conventional moral reasoning?

Middle childhood

What age would be postconventional moral reasoning?

Late adolescence, early adulthood

Preconventional morality focuses on:

• Personal consequence (egocentric)

• Avoiding punishment, gaining rewards

• Not based in social convention or laws

• Little conception of rules

What are the stages of preconventional moral reasoning?

1. Heteronomous

2. Instrumental

Describe stage 1 of preconventional moral reasoning

• Rightness/wrongness of action is determined by personal consequence of action

• Punishment focused

Describe stage 2 of preconventional moral reasoning

• Rightness/wrongness of action determined by what you gain from it

• Reward focused

• Exchange System morality

What preconventional stage would the child present: “He shouldn’t steal because he will go to jail.”

Stage 1

What preconventional stage would the child present: “He should steal in case he has cancer someday and would want someone to steal for him.”

Stage 2

Conventional morality focuses on…

• Rules/laws

• Understanding that there are shared standards of right/wrong

• Influenced by social rules

Define moral behavior

Compliance with social duties and laws

What are the stages of conventional morality?

Stage 3) “Good Child”, Stage 4) “Law and Order”

Describe stage 3 of conventional moral reasoning

• Rightness or wrongness of action determined by whether action pleases, helps, or is approved by others

• Avoidance of disapproval

• Family/school focused

• Living up to expectation

Describe stage 4 of conventional moral reasoning

• Rightness/wrongness of action determined by whether it conforms to rules or laws

• Society focused

• Must maintain social order, have a duty to uphold laws

What conventional stage would the child present: “He is only doing something that is natural for a good husband to do.”

Stage 3

What conventional stage would the child present: “It’s wrong to steal. You have to follow the rules.”

Stage 4

Describe postconventional morality

• Focus on ideals, moral principles

• Affirms people’s agreed upon rights and basic ethical principles

• Goes beyond social conventions to more abstract, universal principles of right and wrong

What are the stages of postconventional morality?

Stage 5) Social Contract, Stage 6) Universal Ethical Principles

Describe stage 5 of postconventional moral reasoning

• Rightness/wrongness of action determined by social contract which acts for welfare of group

• Laws established by democratic means

• Laws/contracts can change

• Flexibility in moral judgements

Describe stage 6 of postconventional moral reasoning

• Rightness/wrongness of actions determined by general ethical principles that transcend law

• General principles, not individuals or situations or community practices determine right and wrong

What postconventional stage would the speaker present: “It would be reasonable for anyone in that situation to steal.”

Stage 5

What postconventional stage would the speaker present: “The higher principle of preserving a life makes it morally correct to steal.”

Stage 6

_______ levels of moral reasoning are positively related to higher levels of prosocial behavior

Higher

Moral reasoning is _______ but not _____ to account for moral action

Necessary, sufficient