Moral Development Flashcards
What are the 2 contrasting views of moral thought
- Young children have an inherently moral nature
2. Young children must learn about morality through social and cultural experiences
What is the evolutionary perspective of moral thought
Children are not inherently good or bad
Humans have a sense of morality as it has an adaptive value
What is Piaget’s cognitive component of moral development
There are 3 stages of moral reasoning that children have to go through
- premoral
- Heteronomous
- Autonomous
What is the premoral stage of moral development
Up to 4yrs
They have no awareness of rules and no notions of justice. Don’t use moral principles
What is the heteronomous stage of moral development
Between 4 and 10yrs
Rules are seen as unchangeable
Responsibility is due to consequences rather than intentions
Don’t know what level of punishment is appropriate
What is the autonomous stage of moral development
10+
Rules are seen as changeable
Responsibly is based partly on intentions
Know punishment should be appropriate
What 2 factors play a role in transitioning between the heteronomous and the autonomous stage of moral development
- Cognitive maturation e.g decline egocentrism
2. Social experience e.g contact with peers
What did Piaget find to do with consequences outweighing intentions
Younger children said that the child opening the door knocking over lots of glasses was worse than the child climbing up to get something and knocking over 1 glass
What is Kohlberg’s theory of moral development
3 levels
- Pre conventional morality
- Conventional morality
- Post conventional morality
What is pre conventional morality
Right and wrong is determined by rewards and punishments
Stage 1 - Whatever leads to punishment is wrong
Stage 2 - The right way to behave is what is rewarded
What is conventional morality
Views of others matter and seeking approval
Stage 3 - Behaving in ways they see as good
Stage 4 - obedient to authority
What is post conventional morality
The rights of others can override obedience of laws
Stage 5 - recognition that rules should sometimes be broken
Stage 6 - takes in to account the view of everyone affected by a moral decision
What is the affective component of moral development
Contagious crying
Empathy development
Moral Emotions
What did Geangu, Benga, Stahl, & Striano (2010) find to do with contagious crying
Children up to 9 months showed equal facial and vocal distress when exposed to a cry
What is the behavioural component of moral development
- Prosocial behaviour
2. Anti-social behaviour
What is prosocial behaviour
Actions performed to the benefit of others at cost to the person doing the behaviour
What is antisocial behaviour
Acts that harm another individual
What are 2 aspects of prosocial behaviour
- Helping
2. Cooperation
What did Hamlin, Wynn, & Bloom (2007) do and find to do with helping
Children alternately shown a video of a red circle either being helped to pushed down while trying to climb a hill
Infants chose the helper
What is a follow up study to Hamlin, Wynn, & Bloom (2007)
Infants shown videos where either the ball got helped up the hill or was nudged down it. The ball either bounced at the top of the hill or did not. The able either bounced at the bottom or did not
Children preferred the that bounced even if it was the hinderer
