PSYO 321 Final Exam: Chapter 13

Moral development

involves changes in thoughts, feelings, and behaviours regarding standards of right and wrong.

The intrapersonal dimension

pertains to a person’s activities when they are not engaged in social interaction.

The interpersonal dimension

pertains to social interactions, including cooperation and conflict.

Piaget

Heteronomous (4-7) → Transition (7-10) → Autonomous (10+)

Kohlberg

Kohlberg proposed three levels of moral development.

Development from one level to the next is fostered by opportunities to take the perspective of others and to experience conflict.

Interaction is a critical part of the social stimulation that challenges children to change their moral reasoning

Kohlberg’s three levels of moral development

1. Preconventional reasoning

2. Conventional reasoning

3. Postconventional reasoning

Preconventional reasoning:

the lowest level, at which good and bad are interpreted in terms of external rewards and punishments.

Conventional reasoning:

intermediate level, at which individuals apply certain standards that are set by others, such as parents or the government.

Postconventional reasoning:

The individual recognizes alternative moral courses, explores options, and then decides on a personal moral code.

Kohlberg’s 6 Stages of Moral Development

Stage 1: Punishment and Obedience Orientation

Stage 2: Individualism, Purpose, and Exchange

Stage 3: Mutual Interpersonal Expectations, Relationships, and Interpersonal Conformity

Stage 4: Social System Morality

Stage 5: Social Contract or Utility and Individual Rights

Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles

Stage 1 Punishment and Obedience Orientation:

Children obey because adults tell them to obey. People base their moral decisions on fear of punishment.

Stage 2 Individualism, Purpose, and Exchange:

Individuals pursue their own interests but let others do the same. What is right involves equal exchange

Stage 3 Mutual Interpersonal Expectations, Relationships, and Interpersonal Conformity:

Individuals value trust, caring, and loyalty to others as a basis for moral judgments.

Stage 4 Social System Morality:

Moral judgements are based on understanding and the social order, law, justice, and duty.

Stage 5 Social Contract or Utility and Individual Rights:

Individuals reason that values, rights, and principles transcend the law.

Stage 6 Universal Ethical Principles:

The person has developed moral judgments that are based on universal human rights. When faced with a dilemma between law and conscience, a personal, individualized conscience is followed.

Kohlberg’s levels occur sequentially and are age-related

Before age 9, children use preconventional reasoning.

By early adolescence, they reason in more conventional ways.

By early adulthood, a small number of individuals reason in postconventional ways.

• The moral stages have been found to appear somewhat later than Kohlberg initially envisioned.

• Reasoning at the higher stages, especially 6, is rare.

• Based on the individual's level of cognitive development

Prosocial behaviour

Altruism: unselfish interest and voluntary effort in helping another person.

• Learning to share is an important aspect of prosocial behaviour.

• Research indicates that sharing is initially done for non-empathic reasons.

• By about 4 years of age, empathic awareness and adult encouragement produce a sense of obligation.

The Development of Prosocial Behaviour

Perspective of others is required to sympathize or empathize.

By 14 months, children are distressed when they see others in distress.

Cooperation is evident at 14 months (fairness and sympathy)

By 18–25 months, sharing is seen when see adult harmed by another

By 2–4 years, certain prosocial behaviours increase

Socializing prosocial behaviour

• Modelling and teaching prosocial behaviour

• Arranging opportunities for their children to engage in prosocial behaviour

• Disciplining their children and eliciting prosocial behaviour from them

• Peer Influences Interventions

Antisocial behaviour

Disruptive, hostile, or aggressive behaviours that violate social norms or rules and that harm or take advantage of others

• Instrumental and relational aggression

Socialization of Antisocial Behaviour

• Risk

• Parent-child interactions

• Punitive parenting

• Reciprocal

• Parental monitoring

• Parent conflict

Lying

Lying is often considered an antisocial behavior

After 2 years of age, children become more inclined to lie about a transgression.

Lying may be an early developmental milestone reflecting increasing cognitive development.

There may be prosocial reasons to lie and can be viewed as a signal of social development.

Antisocial behaviour: Juvenile Delinquency

Males are more likely to engage in delinquency than are females.

Theft, property damage, and physical aggression peak at 18 years.

The peak for violence is 18 to 19 years of age for males and 19 to 21 years of age for females.

Early-onset antisocial behaviour (before age 11) is associated with more negative developmental outcomes than late-onset (after age 11)