8 dev of prosocial behaviour and moral reasoning

altruistic

motivated purely by desire to help another at cost to oneself (e.g. anonymous donation)

prosocial

pattern of behaviour regardless of motivation (potential benefit/ associated costs to donor)

Why be prosocial?

evolutionary roots - increase survival of kin

enhance reputation/ acceptance within group, learn to follow norms of behaviour

Warkenen & Tomasello (2006)

infants and chimpanzees exhibit altruistic helping

human infants - consistently and spontaneously helped experimenter in most scenarios

chimpanzees - showed helping behaviours particularly involving direct physical actions

How to reinforce prosocial behaviour?

prompting and reinforcement

explicit scaffolding (encouragement and praise)

How does parenting influence prosocial behaviour?

parenting styles and response (secure attachment= higher empathy, parents who are empathetic, respond sensitively and encourage empathy

Moral reasoning

how we reason or judge whether an action is right or wrong

Piaget’s theory

observed how kids understood ‘rules of the game’, corresponds to ‘rules of society’.  

Piaget’s 3 stages of understanding

Premoral (up to 4 years) rules not understood  

Moral realism/heteronomous (4 to 10) rules come from higher authority, cannot be changed 

Moral subjectivism/autonomous (10+), rules mutually agreed by players, can change

Cross cultural evidence supporting Piaget’s theory

Linaza (1984) using English and Spanish children

Kohlberg’s theory/ study

expanded upon Piaget’s concepts - across the life span, not just childhood. Much more intense study over 30 years. Participants presented with stories of ‘dilemmas’- crucial aspect was why something was or wasn’t wrong  

Kohlberg’s Levels of Moral Reasoning consists of…?

3 levels of reasoning, each with 2 stages

What are the three levels?

preconventional morality

conventional morality

postconventional morality

Preconventional morality

reason in relation to self, little understanding of shared rules.

Seek pleasure, avoid punishment.

Children under 9, some adolescents, criminal offenders 

Conventional morality

importance of rules, expectations, conventions of society.

Most adolescents and adults  

Postconventional morality

understanding of moral principles underlying law

What two stages are under preconventional morality (level1)?

Stage 1- concerned with authority, obey rules to avoid punishment  

Stage 2- weigh risks and benefits, recognise others might have different needs/ interests, actions determined by ones needs  

What two stages are under conventional morality (level 2)?

Stage 3- focus on interpersonal relationships, being good= having good motives, living what is expected of you (approval/disapproval of others important)  

Stage 4- focus on society as a whole, performing ones duty to maintain social order  

What two stages are under postconventional morality (level 3)?

Stage 5- importance of society functioning and individual rights, usually not until 20+ laws, not everyone  

Stage 6- following universal ethical principles, when law violates principle, act in accordance to principle  

Criticisms of Kohlberg’s theory?

Cultural bias- Snarey 1985- review of studies in 27 cultures. Similar progression through stages 1-4, but stage 5 only found in urban societies. Biased toward cultures favouring individualism- approaches which take into account the diversity of values within cultures  

Gender bias- all orginal participants male, stages reflect specifically ‘male morality’.  

Gilligan, 1982- criticised both Piaget and Kohlberg of negative views of ‘female morality’. Argued females more concerned about impact behaviour has on others. ‘People before principles’ (female) vs ‘principles before people’ (male)