Issues and debates - The development of morality

Question 1

What is meant by morality?

Answer 1

Separating good and bad behaviour

Question 2

What are the two main stages of moral reasoning suggested by Piaget?

Answer 2

Heteronomous and autonomous stages.

Question 3

How did Piaget investigate children’s moral development?

Answer 3

Piaget used a story to test children’s moral development.

Question 4

Describe Piaget’s heteronomous stage of moral reasoning.

Answer 4

Childrens are directed by others and focus on consequences- they obey the rules to avoid punishment.

Question 5

Describe Piaget’s autonomous stage of moral reasoning.

Answer 5

Children at the age of ten will know what is right or wrong. Following the rules is about more than the consequence of not following them- e.g. we put litter in the bin not because we’ll get told off if we don’t but because it is the right thing to do.

Question 6

What are Kohlberg’s three levels of moral reasoning?

Answer 6

Level one was about the pre-conventional (normal) morality, level two is conventional morality and level three is post conventional morality.

Question 7

How did Kohlberg investigate children’s moral development?

Answer 7

He used stories to find someone’s stage of moral development.

Question 8

Describe Kohlberg’s pre-conventional morality.

Answer 8

Childrens believe rules cannot be changed.It is all about consequences if a child have rewards or not. ( aged up to about 9 years old)

Question 9

Describe Kohlberg’s conventional morality.

Answer 9

Young people or adults see themselves as good members of society, and moral reasoning comes from group norms. Being a ‘good person’ is first about being liked and then about duty. ( most young people and adults)

Question 10

Describe Kohlberg’s post-conventional morality.

Answer 10

The individual has their own ideas about what is good and bad around the world. (only about 10% of people reach this level)

Question 11

What are the weaknesses of both Piaget and Kohlberg’s theories of moral reasoning?

Answer 11

Both Piaget and Kohlberg used stories that were artificial. There were no real consequences in the stories from decisions that were made.

Question 12

Why is it a weakness that Kohlberg used an all male sample?

Answer 12

• Carol Gilligan criticised Kohlberg, saying his male only sample meant his theory was about male morality.

Question 13

What did Gilligan suggest were the differences between male and female morality?

Answer 13

Both male and females have different morals. E.g. women may focus more on emotions as for men they will focus on rules applied to all equally

Question 14

What are nativist theories of morality?

Answer 14

Theories that view morality as part of human nature.

Question 15

What is the evidence that moral development may be natural and universal?

Answer 15

Babies seem to feel empathy from a young age, suggesting it is natural rather than learned.

Question 16

What is the relevance of the nature/ nurture debate to morality?

Answer 16

There is a debate over whether humans are naturally moral or whether morality is learned e.g. our parents

Question 17

What is the evidence for the ‘nurture’ side of the debate for morality?

Answer 17

How children are affected by environment and social influences. e.g . DIana baumrind

Question 18

What can help children to develop a moral understanding?

Answer 18

Social influences a child experiences, and being encouraged to think of the perspectives of others.

Question 19

How do children experience empathy in early infancy?

Answer 19

Children’s feelings towards others are not different from their feelings towards themselves.

Question 20

How do children experience empathy aged 1- 2 years, according to Damon?

Answer 20

Children realise others are upset and this distresses them, but they do not know what to do.

Question 21

How do children experience empathy in early childhood, according to Damon?

Answer 21

Children learn that others have a different view from their own and can react differently from them.

Question 22

How do children experience empathy aged 10- 12 years, according to Damon?

Answer 22

Children start to realise social and societal differences- e.g. that other people may live in poverty and have difficulties to adapt to the world.

Question 23

Why is it valuable to understand children’s moral development?

Answer 23

To understand how children think so that adults could quickly adapt to them. Adults should not punish children if they don’t have the moral development to understand that what they did was wrong and to try and explain to them.