Moral Development Children’s moral development—an

understanding of right and wrong—and ultimately a child’s behavior-is influenced by: Affective or emotional component: guilt, empathy, sense

of conscience Cognitive component: how we think about right and

wrong Behavioral component: how we actually behave we

experience temptation to lie, cheat, or violate moral rules

Affective Component Probably least understood

Freudian theory or guilt Temperament of child Parenting styles

E.g., warmth-love, disciplinary approach

Behavioral Component Can be quite independent of both affect

and understanding (e.g., Clinton) Again, is highly related to both personality

and parenting Again, the not well understood E.g., knowledge vs behavior– teen

pregnancy

Cognitive Component While moral behavior depends on

socialization, it is also a process of cognitive development

One very influential theory was developed by Lawrence Kohlberg

Kohlberg presented “moral dilemmas to children and studied how their answers changed with development

Story of two brothers and dad Joe was working hard to earn money to attend a

summer camp. He worked all year to make the necessary $500

Just before summer his Dad (a hard working, single father) decided he needed the money for a camping trip with friends

He told Joe to give him the money. Should Joe refuse?

Alex, Joe’s brother finds out that Joe really had earned $1,000 not $500. Should Alex tell the father?

Conscientious Objector? During a time of war, should people be

allowed out of the military because they morally do not believe in killing?

Kohlberg Moral Dilemma In Europe, a woman was near death from cancer.

One drug might save her, a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered . The druggist was charging $2,000, ten times what the drug cost him to make. The sick woman’s husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could get together only about half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said no. The husband got desperate and broke into the man’s store to steal the drug for his wife. Should the husband have done that? Why?

Heinz Morality Story

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Judgment

On basis of longitudinal research, Kohlberg proposed that children develop moral reasoning through a specific series of stages that are discontinuous and hierarchical.

Each stage reflects a qualitatively different, more adequate way of thinking than the one before.

Kohlberg presented children with hypothetical moral dilemmas and questioned them about the issues involved.

Kohlberg’s 6 Stages

Age-related

Sequential

Universal

Kohlberg’s Stages Level I- Preconventional

Stage I: Rules obeyed for own sake and to avoid punishment

Stage II: Follow rules when in doing say is in one’s own best interest

Level II- Conventional Stage 3: Good boy/girl stage. One must live up

to what is expected by people close to you Stage 4: Law and Order. Must uphold laws

Kohlberg’s Stages Level III: Post Conventional

Stage 5: Being aware that people hold a variety of values.

Stage 6: Understanding universal principles but also the importance of following self-chosen principles

1. Punishment & Obedience Consequences

Avoid punishment

No: Stealing is a crime; will go to jail

Yes: Drug is only worth $200, not $2000; probably won’t be a big crime

2. Naïve Hedonism Consequences

Personal rewards

No: Druggist needs to make back what it cost him and to make a living himself

Yes: Doesn’t want to lose his wife

Preconventional

3. Good Boy/Good Girl Intentions

Help, please others

No: Can’t be blamed if his wife dies; he still loves her & tried to do everything he could

Yes: He’s doing it because he loves his wife; he means well; it would be his fault if his wife died

4. Law & Order Will of society

Laws, rules maintain social order

No: Always wrong to steal; must abide by the law or everyone would steal

Yes: Wants to save his wife, but since he’s broken the law, must be willing to pay the consequences

5. Social Contract Human values & rights

Social contracts

Legality vs. Morality

No: The ends don’t justify the means even though good would come of it; must respect the laws that people have agreed to for the sake of society

Yes: Even though he would be breaking the law, in this case, it’s the only choice for saving his wife’s life

6. Individual Principles of Conscience Abstract principles Universal justice, truth

Transcend laws, social contracts

Individual conscience

No: May be many other lives that depend on this drug, not just his wife; what is right is what is right for all people; must act on what is just, not what is legally correct or emotionally preferable

Yes: Preserving a life is the highest moral principle; although legally wrong, it is morally right

Increasing Complexity Will go to jail

Doesn’t want to lose his wife

He loves his wife; can’t be blamed

It’s against the law

Must respect the agreements people have

made with each other

Preserving life is the highest moral principle,

above the law

Mean Percentage of Moral Reasoning by Age Group

Role of Parents and Peers