PSY 2105 Lecture Notes - Name Calling, Conflict Resolution, Reciprocal Altruism
13 Feb 2013
School
Department
Course
Professor
1
Moral Development
Recap Chapter 14:
Piaget, Kolhberg, Turiel
evolutionary theories
altruism (paradox, kim selection, rec alt)
o aggression (dominance hierarchy)
o Pro social behaviours (empathy, sympathy)
Aggression
o types; determinants; cognitive biases
Controlling Aggression
Morality Issues
Morality involves issues of right and wrong
o Moral rules: Broad issues of fairness and justice
o Social conventions: Rules used by society to maintain order
o Morality has different components
Thought processes that underlie morality are assessed in
moral reasoning studies
Emotions associated with moral behaviour
Behaviours governed by morality are assessed in studies of
moral conduct
Theories of Moral Development
Cognitive – Developmental Theories
Piaget
2
Piaget’s stage theory: used moral dilemmas to assess children’s thoughts
on morality
o Stage 1 (2–4 years): Children have no true conception of morality
o Stage 2 (5–7 years): Children understand and use rules, but are
not flexible in rule use (stage of moral realism)
includes egocentrism and blind adherence to rules
Objective responsibility: Children evaluate moral situations
on the basis of amount of damage
Immanent justice refers to inherent justice
o Stage 3 (8–11 years): Children realize that rules are conventions
and can be altered; children in this stage now consider intention in
their evaluations of morality (stage of moral relativism)
o Stage 4: children develop rules as needed and extend moral
reasoning beyond their personal level
Moral reasoning develops as the cognitive structures of the child develop
Fared well empirically
o Children increasingly consider motives and intentions with age
o Peer relations are important
o Punitive parents show less mature moral reasoning
But
o Parents play more important role
o Underestimated children (e.g., intent)
Kohlberg
3
Kohlberg’s model: presented children with moral dilemmas and asked
them to explain their reasoning
Kohlberg’s three levels of reasoning:
o Pre-conventional
A person must meet his/her own needs
Morality of punishment and obedience
Morality of naïve instrumental hedonism
Younger children; criminals?
Morality is externally defined
Rules are outside of oneself
Avoid punishment
Stages
stage 1
punishment and obedience
Morality derives from power and authority
stage 2
naïve hedonism
beh guided egocentrically by pleasantness or
unpleasantness of consequences
Morality means looking out for yourself
o Conventional
Social systems must be based on laws and regulations
Morality of maintaining good relations
Morality of maintaining social order
moral decisions based on perceived social pressure (i.e.,
approval of others)
rules and law define morality
most adolescents and adults (?)
internalize rules of family/society
Stages
stage 3
good boy or good girl orientation
Morality means doing what makes you liked
Document Summary
Altruism (paradox, kim selection, rec alt: aggression (dominance hierarchy, pro social behaviours (empathy, sympathy) Morality involves issues of right and wrong: moral rules: broad issues of fairness and justice, social conventions: rules used by society to maintain order, morality has different components. Thought processes that underlie morality are assessed in moral reasoning studies. Behaviours governed by morality are assessed in studies of moral conduct. Objective responsibility: children evaluate moral situations on the basis of amount of damage. Moral reasoning develops as the cognitive structures of the child develop. Fared well empirically: children increasingly consider motives and intentions with age, peer relations are important, punitive parents show less mature moral reasoning. But: parents play more important role, underestimated children (e. g. , intent) Kohlberg"s model: presented children with moral dilemmas and asked them to explain their reasoning. Kohlberg"s three levels of reasoning: pre-conventional. A person must meet his/her own needs. Beh guided egocentrically by pleasantness or unpleasantness of consequences.
