Moral Development Flashcards
What is the main idea of Moral Development?
Moral development explains how people’s sense of morality changes over time.
What are the three main theories of moral development?
- Nativism = morality is innate (we are born with it)
- Empiricism = morality comes from learning and experience
- Constructivism = morality develops through cognitive growth (Piaget & Kohlberg).
Moral development - key idea
Young children think about right and wrong differently than adults.
What is Piaget’s Theory of Moral Development?
Jean Piaget (1932) - Cognitive-Developmental Approach.
Two stages of development: Morality shifts from rigid rule-following to flexible, intention-based thinking.
What are Piaget’s two stages of moral development?
- Heteronomous Morality = Age 5-10 years = rules are fixed, set by authority and breaking them is always wrong.
- Autonomous Morality = 10+ years = rules can change and intentions matter more than consequences.
Piaget’s Theory of Moral Development - EXAMPLE
A child in the heteronomous stage says accidentally breaking 5 cups is worse than purposely breaking 1.
A child in the autonomous stage says breaking 1 cup on purpose is worse.
What is Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development?
- Lawrence Kohlberg (1958) - Stages of Moral Reasoning
- Heinz dilemma
- 3 Levels of moral development with 2 stages in each
- Key idea = young children think about punishment and reward/ teenagers and adults care about laws and social approval
= few people reach postconventional morality, where they use universal ethical principles
What is the Heinz Dilemma?
A man named Heinz steals medicine for his dying wife because he can’t afford it.
Kohlberg asked, ‘Was Heinz right or wrong?’, but focused on why people gave their answers.
What are Kohlberg’s three levels of moral development?
**Level 1 = Preconventional Morality: **
- Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment (avoid punishment)
- Stage 2: Self-Interest (What benefits me?)
**Level 2 = Conventional Morality: **
- Stage 3: Social Approval (be a ‘good person’)
- Stage 4: Law & Order (follow laws and duty)
Level 3 = Postconventional Morality:
- Stage 5; Social Contract (Laws should be fair)
- Stage 6: Universal Ethics (Morality based on universal principles).
Kohlberg’s 3 Levels of Moral Development - HEINZ DILEMMA
Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment = ‘Heinz shouldn’t steal—it’s illegal!’
Stage 2: Self-Interest = ‘Heinz should steal—he needs his wife alive!’
Stage 3: Social Approval = ‘Heinz should steal—people will respect him.’
Stage 4: Law & Order = ‘Heinz shouldn’t steal—laws must be obeyed!’
Stage 5: Social Contract = ‘Laws should be flexible—saving a life is more important.’
Stage 6: Universal Ethics = ‘Saving a life is more important than property rights.’
Evaluating Kohlberg’s Theory - STRENGTHS
Explains how moral reasoning develops over time.
Supported by cross-cultural studies.
Evaluating Kohlberg’s Theory - LIMITATIONS
Methodological issues = only tested male participants (gender bias).
Cultural Bias = focuses on western, individualistic values.
Ignores Emotions = assumes people make moral choices logically but intuition and emotions play a big role.
Evaluating Kohlberg’s Theory - KEY CRITICISM
- Carol Gilligan (1982) = Gender Bias in Kohlberg’s Theory
- Argued Kohlberg focused only on male perspective (“justice-based morality”).
- Proposed an alternative “Care Perspective”, where women focus more on relationships and empathy
- EXAMPLE = A boy might say, “Stealing is wrong because laws matter.” BUT A girl might say, “Heinz should steal because his wife’s life is important.”
Cultural Differences in Moral Development - STUDY
Miller & Bersoff (1992) - Justice vs. Interpersonal Responsibility. Moral reasoning depends on cultural values.
Miller & Bersoff (1992) - Justice vs. Interpersonal Responsibility
US participants = prioritised justice and fairness (stealing is wrong).
Indian participants prioritised relationships and duty (helping family is more important than laws).
WHAT THIS MEANS = Western cultures → Focus on individual rights & fairness. / Non-Western cultures → Focus on duty, loyalty & relationships.
KOHLBERG QUOTE
‘Moral development is not just about learning rules, but about developing a deeper sense of justice and ethics.’
ESSAY STUDIES
Cognitive development & morality = Piaget (1932) - Heteronomous vs. Autonomous morality.
Stages of moral reasoning = Kohlberg (1958) - Heinz Dilemma.
Gender differences in morality = Gilligan (1982) - Care Perspective.
Cultural influences on morality = Miller & Bersoff (1992) - Justice vs. Relationships.
