M7: Moral Character and Stages of Moral Development

Wynne & Walberg

“Engaging in morally relevant conduct or words, or refraining from certain conduct of words”

Piaget

“The essence of morality is respect for rules and that acting on internalized principles (autonomy) represents a higher level of morality that performance based on rules imposed by others (heteronomy).”

Pritchard

“Moral character is a personality construct: a complex set of relatively persistent qualities of the individual person, and the term has a definite positive connotation when it is used in discussions of moral education.”

Berkowitz

“An individual’s set of psychological characteristics that affect that person’s ability and inclination to function morally”

Moral character

A force behind moral actions

Refers to a person’s values, decisions, and actions

Develops over time and is influenced by family, society, and personal experiences

Moral development

Helps us make better decisions and understands why people act the way they do

Ethical sensitivity

The perception of moral and social situations, including the ability to consider possible actions and their repercussions in terms of people involved

Ethical judgement

The consideration of possible alternative actions and the rationale for selecting one or more as best

Ethical motivation

The selection of moral values most relevant in the situation and the commitment to act on that selection

Ethical action

The ego strength combined with psychological and social skills necessary to carry out the selected alternative

External/Social theory

We learn morality from society and external influences

Morality is shaped by rules, culture, family, religion, and consequences

We are born as a “blank slate” (neutral) and learn morality from what we are taught

Family as the primary interpreter of culture; religions as central cultural forces

Skinner’s conditioning

Behavior is controlled by rewards and punishment (external/social theory)

Internal theory

Morality is partly built into us by nature (genetics)

Rosseau: human nature is essentially good

Clark and Grunstein: 50% of variance in behavior may be genetically determined

Wilson: sense of right and wrong is the result of biological evolution interacting with culture and social convention

Interactional theory

Morality is a battle between selfish instincts and societal expectations

Hogan & Emler: Morality develops in stages as we grow: Early childhood (focusing on own needs), Middle childhood & early teens (awareness on rules and fairness), late teens & adulthood (understanding of ethics and fairness)

Freud: Human nature in institually anti-social and undeveloped

Erickson: Developing conscience and morals is primarily of of middle childhood

Personality/Identity theory

Morality comes from personal values and habits; it is a part of who we are

Virtues come from natural predispositions and interactions with the environment

Vessels

States that people with moral character are predisposed to:

• Show kindness and compassion with empathy

• Be honest and principled

• Resolve problems despite conflicted moral values and principles

• Show hardwork and commitment to individual and group goals