Moral Development Flashcards
Three components of morality
conscience, moral reasoning, prosocial behavior
Moral reasoning
The process in which an individual tries to determine the difference between what is right and wrong in a personal situation
Trends in Moral reasoning
when kids are younger they view rules as unchangeable, but when kids get older they implement internalized values.
Stages of Moral Reasoning
- Preconventional level- self centered- focus on getting rewards and avoiding punishment
- Conventional level- centered on social expectations
- Focus on compliance with social duties and laws (good boy, good girl, maintaining law and order)
- Postconventional level- centered on ideals, focus on moral principles
Prosocial behavior
empathy- worrying about others feelings and doing things to help
• People who have a high level of moral reasoning are more likely to help others (prosocial behavior) and less likely to engage in delinquent behaviors (antisocial behavior)
“backwards” moral development
teens are more insensitive than younger children
Aggression
oInstrumental aggression- motivated by the desire to obtain a concrete goal, such as gaining possession of a peer’s toy.
oRelational aggression- harms others by damaging their peer relationships
•Parent socialization of key to children’s moral development (know the 3 aspects of parent socialization and be able to give examples of how parents and other adults can promote moral behavior)
o Modeling- adults demonstrate behaviors and attitudes towards others
o Parent as “social manager”- parents control children’s experiences, including exposure to various people and activities
o Direct instruction- children are directly taught skills and strategies, and advised in different social situations.
oParenting behaviors and children’s behaviors
Authoritative parenting • Consistent discipline • Rationale explanations • Secure attachment Authoritarian and permissive parenting • Physical punishment • Permissive, “giving in” to temper and demands
