Moral Development - Piaget and Kohlberg Flashcards
Name Piaget’s 3 stages of moral development, and the age ranges they occur in.
Heteronomous Morality: age 4-7
Transition: age 7-10
Autonomous Morality: age 10+
What are the characteristics of heteronomous morality?
Justice and rules are believed to be unchangeable properties of the world, removed from the control of people. Rules are rules.
What are the characteristics of autonomous morality?
Rules and laws are created by people. In judging action, one should consider the actor’s intentions as well as the consequences.
Laurence Kohlberg argued that _____ drives behavioural development
Internalization
What is internalization, and how does it work in terms of morality?
It is a developmental change driven by behaviour that is externally controlled to behaviour that is controlled by internal standards and behaviours.
How did Kohlberg test his theories?
He gave his subjects a series of challenging ethical dilemmas.
What are the three main levels of reasoning according to Kohlberg?
Pre-Conventional
Conventional
Post-Conventional
Name and describe the 2 stages of Pre-Conventional reasoning.
Stage 1: Punishment Orientation - Children obey the rules of others to avoid punishment
Stage 2: Naive Hedonism - Children conform to rules out of self-interest and consideration for what others can do for them in return. (quid pro quo)
In short, there is an emphasis on external control. The standards are those of others, and they are either to avoid punishment or to reap rewards.
Name and describe the 2 stages of Conventional reasoning.
Stage 3: Good Person - Maintaining mutual relations, approval of others. Individuals want to please and help others, can judge intentions, and develop their own ideas of what a good person is (most common for adolescents).
Stage 4: Social Order Orientation - Concerned with doing their duty, showing respect for higher authority, and maintaining the social order. An act is wrong if it violates a rule and harms others.
In short, individuals want to please others and be considered ‘good’ by those persons whose opinions are important to them.
Name and describe the 2 stages of Postconventional reasoning.
Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation - People value the will of the majority and the welfare of society, but reason that individual values, rights, and principles transcend the law.
Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles - People do what they think is right, regardless of legal restrictions or others’ opinions. Their decision might involve personal risk. For the good of everyone! (Probably doesn’t exist.)
In short, one acknowledges the possibility of conflict between two socially accepted standards. The control of conduct is now internal for standards observed.
What is the biggest criticism of Kohlberg’s work/theory?
Moral thoughts and moral behaviours/actions are two entirely different things. One might say they help others in need but in actuality do the opposite.
Situational compliance is…
compliance out of fear/necessity; not long-lived or deeply invested
Committed compliance is…
compliance out of respect and trust; long-lived and cross-situational
T/F: Adolescents are very tuned into adult hypocrisy; they are aware of when adults display double standards for various behaviours.
True, very true.
What was the problem with Kohlberg’s dilemmas?
Hypothetical dilemmas posed by Kohlberg often did not match the moral dilemmas that many people (adolescents) face in their everyday lives
Which person challenged Kohlberg’s theories and justice perspective?
Gilligan; she argued for the care perspective
Name the 3 types of child-rearing and moral development:
Love withdrawal: “I’m going to leave you if you continue to do that.”
Power Assertion: “That’s it, you’re grounded!”
Induction: “Don’t pinch him, he was trying to help you.” (best practice)
Define moral identity.
The extent to which someone believes that being moral/acting morally is a central or essential characteristic of their sense of self .
T/F: Those who have a stronger moral identity tend to act more in accordance with their moral judgments and beliefs.
True.
According to Bandura, ______ is the key to behaving morally.
Self-regulation.
What is the best way to increase moral development in adolescents, according to Bandura?
Service learning.
Give students choice in their service activities
Encourage self-reflection about their participation
Benefits: grades improve, more motivated, more goals being set, a sense that they can make a difference! It also increases their odds of volunteering more in the future.