Issues and Debates – Theories of morality

Question 1

What happens in Stage 1 in piagets theory

Answer 1

Pre-moral stage (0-5 years) little understanding of rules, behaviour regulated from the outside.

Question 2

What happens in Stage 2:

Answer 2

Heteronomous/moral realism (5-9 years) Rules are rigid. Consequences dictate the severity of behaviour, not intentions.

Question 3

What happens in stage 3

Answer 3

Autonomous morality (10+ years) Morals are seen as agreements between people, an action with bad consequences can be a good action if the intention was good.