Moral Development

Question 1

What are the three main questions for moral development?

Answer 1

1/ What is morality? 2/ Why are we moral? 3/ How does morality develop?

Question 2

What is morality?

Answer 2

Morality is understanding the difference between right and wrong whether that be physical or psychological harm to others or issues involving justice.

Question 3

What are the evolutionary factors of morality?

Answer 3

‘helping’ behaviours are observed across variety of species.

Question 4

What other species do we see morality in?

Answer 4

bees will attack and animal threatening the hive which risks death for others… Also, moral like rules obeyed by chimps such as reciprocating favours like grooming or sharing food and males won’t attack females using teeth.

Question 5

Where does the majority of helping behaviours occur and what does this suggest?

Answer 5

Majority of helping behaviours occur within family groups – promoting survival of genes?

Question 6

Is humans helping behaviour bias to family?

Answer 6

Humans are also biased towards family members. However- often make sacrifices for ‘genetic strangers’ e.g., charity work, defending country in wars, etc..

Question 7

What is the origin of helping others?

Answer 7

In early hunter-gatherer groups, selfishness could undermine group survival. Groups with systems of social exchange more likely to survive: “be nice to me, and I’ll be nice to you”

Question 8

Evidence that we learn to be moral?

Answer 8

It is possible that we learn to be moral from observing and internalizing moral standards in society. Eg, social learning theory- children imitate morally relevant behaviour displayed by adults. Also, parental praise and discipline may modify a child’s morals.

Question 9

Issue with learning morals?

Answer 9

HOWEVER – what if societal norms are wrong? Slavery, women’s rights, racial prejudice, etc.

Question 10

How does cognitive development theory explain moral development?

Answer 10

Rather than merely adopting existing rules, we actively construct our own set of moral rules. The child builds moral concepts (fairness, justice) by attending to conflicting perspectives.

Question 11

According the the cognitive development theory, what pushes a child towards new levels of understanding?

Answer 11

Finding ‘solutions’ to moral conflicts pushes the child towards new levels of understanding.

Question 12

What extension of Piaget’s theory of moral development explains moral development?

Answer 12

Kohlberg’s stage theory.

Question 13

Four points that explain Kohlberg’s stage theory?

Answer 13

1/ Development of morality understood as a progression through different stages. 2/ Stages are universal and in a fixed order. 3/ Morality becomes less focussed on external stimuli and more logically consistent. 4/ Stages are general - apply to all situations.

Question 14

According to Kohlberg’s stage theory, progression through stages is promoted by what two main factors?

Answer 14

1/ Cognitive conflict (disequilibrium) 2/ Perspective taking

Question 15

Describe cognitive conflict (disequilibrium) as a main factor that promotes a progression through stages of moral development?

Answer 15

A child may notice weaknesses with their existing understanding.

Question 16

Describe perspective taking as a main factor that promotes a progression through stages of moral development?

Answer 16

Morality is about conflicts of interest. Considering different viewpoints helps develop moral understanding.

Question 17

Draw a table to show the stages of moral development.

Answer 17

Question 18

What are the limitations of Kohlbergs stage theory in relation to younger children?

Answer 18

Kohlberg’s theory may underestimate moral skills prior to adolescence. For example, Nancy Eisenberg – Presented children with situations in which own desires conflicted with helping someone eg attending birthday party vs. helping injured peer.

Therefore, pro-social reasoning more advanced than expected – may reason about more than punishment and personal gain.

Question 19

What are the limitations of Kohlbergs stage theory in relation to post-conventional stages?

Answer 19

• While there is cross-cultural evidence for the first four stages, it appears that people might often not attain Levels 5 and 6.
• Highly reflective. Might require education in philosophy or to be provoked by a major life event.
• Underestimating Stages 3 & 4? Gibbs (2010) argues that ‘ideal reciprocity’ occurs at this level:

“treat others as you would wish to be treated”

Question 20

Is moral thinking linked to moral behaviour?

Answer 20

• Adolescents who had committed crimes reasoned at a lower level than their peers.
• Teenagers who consider morality part of their self-concept display higher levels of community service. Yet no difference in level of moral reasoning.

Suggets that we know behaviour is wrong but will do it anyway if we think we won’t get caught.

Question 21

Three main conclusions of moral devlopement?

Answer 21

1. Morality may have genetic and social components. But children also build their own understanding.
2. Children progress from considering gains and punishment, to thinking about fundamental rights.
3. Kohlberg may have underestimated the moral understanding of children