Moral Dev

Question 1

What is moral effect? What is moral reasoning?

Answer 1

Moral affect: feelings ass. with morality
Moral reasoning: thoughts ass. with morality

Question 2

How did Kohlberg assess kids moral reasoning?

Answer 2

Kids were asked to resolve dilemmas; interested in the reasoning for their decision

Question 3

What characterizes preconventional morality?

Answer 3

Personal consequence of behavior (egocentric)
Avoid punishment
Does not understand rules and laws yet

Question 4

What characterizes conventional morality?

Answer 4

Focused on rules/laws (group focused)
influenced by social rules
understand that there are shared standards of right and wrong
Compliant

Question 5

What characterizes postconventional morality?

Answer 5

Focus on ideals; moral principles
goes beyond social convention to more abstract, universal principles of right and wrong

Question 6

What is involved in heteronomous morality? What stage and ages is associated.

Answer 6

Stage 1 (4-6 yrs), personal consequence of action, punishment focused
“Heinz must not steal because he will be put in jail”

Question 7

What is involved in instrumental morality? What stage and ages are associated.

Answer 7

Stage 2 (7-9 yrs), determined by what you gain from it, exchange system morality
Conform to rules to gain reward and self fulfillment (candy, screen time)
“Heinz should steal the drug in case he gets cancer too”

Question 8

What is involved in good child morality? What stage and ages are associated

Answer 8

Stage 3 (10-11 yrs), determined by whether action pleases, helps, or is approved by others
avoid disapproval, family/school focus. social approval important
“Heinz is a good husband for stealing the drug”
Transition b/w stage 2 and 4

Question 9

What is involved in law and order morality? What stage and ages are associated.

Answer 9

stage 4 (12-14 yrs), determined by whether action conforms to rules and laws
society focused, maintain SOCIAL ORDER, black and white
“Heinz should not steal drug because its against the law”

Question 10

What is involved in social contract morality? What stage and ages are associated.

Answer 10

Stage 5 (15+), determined by social contract which acts for welfare of group, what maximizes social welfare.
laws established by democratic means
flexibility in moral judgements, laws can change
“You have to consider the whole situation and context”

Question 11

What is involved in universal ethical principles morality? What stage and ages are associated.

Answer 11

Stage 6 (17+) (few reach this), determined by general ethical principles that transcend law.
General principles, not individuals or situations or community practices determine right or wrong (black and white to moral principles)
“The higher principle of preserving life makes it morally right to steal the drug”
The thoughts and beliefs need to be backed up by actions.