Chapter 15: moral development Flashcards
What is Piaget’s view on moral development?
Younger children’s moral judgment is governed by one sided respect for adult rules.
Little understanding of intention of others (teacup breaking)
Understanding comes later in childhood that moral conflicts have to be resolved through discussion and compromise
What are Kohlberg’s 5 stages of moral development?
- Punishment orientation
- Instrumental orientation
- Good boy/good girl orientation
- Maintenance of social order
- Morality of contract and individual rights
(6: morality of conscience)
What is the first stage of morality? What is heteronomous morality?
Punishment orientation, where rules are obeyed to avoid punishment
Heteronomous morality: right and wrong is determined by adult figures
Heinz was wrong because the police arrests people who steal
What is the second stage of morality? What is instrumental morality?
Instrumental orientation: Rules are obeyed for personal gain
Instrumental morality = awareness of intentions and desires of other people –> two sides to every argument
Heinz acted morally if his wife helped him a lot around the house
What is the third stage of morality? What is interpersonal normative morality?
Goodboy/goodgirl orientation: rules are obeyed for approval
Interpersonal normative morality = right and wrong is dictated by the question of whether or not other will condemn the person
Heinz should steal the drug to be a good loving husband
What is the fourth stage of morality? What is social system morality?
Maintenance of social order: rules are obeyed for social order
Social system morality = rules are necessary in order for society to function
Heinz stole property of others, and if everyone would do that, society would dysfunction
What is the fifth stage of morality? What is human rights and social welfare morality?
Morality of contract and individual rights: rules are obeyed if they are fair
Human rights/social welfare morality = ethical principles
Right to life supersedes the right to property
What is the hypothesized sixth stage of morality?
Morality of conscience = individual rules are created with a personal set of ethical principles
What is premorality?
Young children have no clear sense of morality according to Piaget’s preoperational stage
What is the difference between heteronomous and autonomous morality? Which Piagetian stages belong with each?
Hetero = rules set by authority (concrete operational)
Auto = rules can be discussed and changed (formal operational)
What are the three levels of morality and where do the stages fit in those?
Level 1: preconventional morality
–> Stages punishment orientation + instrumental orientation (1+2)
Level 2: conventional morality
–> Stages goodboy/goodgirl + maintenance of social order (3+4)
Level 3: postconventional morality
–> Stages morality of contract/individual rights + morality of conscience (5+6)
Why does the stage 6 morality of conscience not apply to the Heinz dilemma?
Stage 6 refers to societal issues, such as using violence to change the political system
Name 6 points of critique on Kohlberg’s theory of moral development
- Underestimating children
- Judgment isn’t action
- Doesn’t cover all of morality
- Social cognition is broader than moral reasoning
- Not universal –> culture differences
- Related to personality –> better at regulating emotions = faster moral development
What is social cognition?
The comprehension of social situations, interactions, moral emotions (guilt, shame), attitudes
What is the link between moral cognition and evolutionary adaptation?
Moral cognition is an evolutionary adaptation to the problems of living in social groups
