Moral Development

Moral Development

Unit 5

Lesson 4

Objectives

Define morality. Explain Kohlberg’s stages of moral

development. Explore moral dilemmas.

Warm Up

What is cognitive development?

Dvpt of mental activities that aid our understanding of world.

Review

What is a schema? Organized set of thoughts or behaviors, a way

of knowing

How do we change our schemas, or learn? Assimilation – New fits into old Accommodation – Change old to fit new

http://projects.coe.uga.edu/epltt/index.php?title=Piaget's_Stages

Piaget’s Dating Game

Directions

1 Bachelor/Bachelorette and 4 contestants up at a time

Bachelor will ask question. Contestants will answer. Audience will decide which stage of

Piaget’s cognitive dvpt contestant’s answer represents

Rd 1

“How would you show you’re interested in me?”

“How would you show your interest in me?” Preoperational

“I would lovingly stare at your face.” Sensorimotor

“I would write you a note and tell you.” Concrete Operational

“I would rearrange the alphabet to put U & I together.” Formal Operational

Rd 2

“What would we do on a typical date?”

“Dinner and a movie, or movie and dinner.” Concrete Operations

“Visit the art museum and discuss which piece best captures the spirit of our relationship.”

Formal Operations “Whatever I feel like.”

Preoperational “Go to the beach and play in the sand and water.”

Sensorimotor

Rd 3

“At the end of our date, how would you say goodnight?”

“Start crying and hyperventilating because you’re leaving.” Sensorimotor

“It would depend on how the overall date went.” Concrete Operations

“I don’t believe in physical intimacy on a first date, it goes against my morals.”

Formal Operational “Did you know it gets dark out so I can go to sleep?”

Preoperational

Moral Development

Lawrence Kohlberg (1973)

How people dvp concepts of right and wrong.

Moral dilemmas

Heinz

Listen to the following moral dilemma…

Answer: Should he have done

what he did? Was he right or

wrong? Why? Explain your answer

on paper

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Dvpt

Preconventional (Morality focused on self)

Conventional (Morality focused on others)

Postconventional (Morality focused on higher power)

Preconventional Morality Assign great importance to the authority of adults

Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment Right is what authority says is right An action is wrong if it’s punished

Stage 2: Individualism & Exchange See different sides to every issue, no longer single authority Right means acting in own best-interests

• Make deals/exchange favors…I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine Punishment is risk to avoid

Conventional Morality Children value rules, which they follow to get approval of

others

Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships Want the approval of people close to them Right is what will gain approval of others

• Good Boy/Good Girl Behaviors

Stage 4: Maintain Law & Order More concerned with rules of larger society Right means obeying laws, respecting authority, maintaining

social order

Postconventional Morality Flexibility allows people to consider what’s truly

important to them (what would make good/ideal society).

Stage 5: Social Contract & Individual Rights Want to follow society’s rules, but don’t see those rules as

absolute. Basic rights & democratic processes that give everyone a say

Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles What’s right and wrong is decided by individual, based on

abstract ethical principles (justice, equality, conscience)

Heinz Dilemma Responses?

With a partner, craft a response from each stage

1- Should not steal for fear of going to prison 2- Steal it, he’ll be happier if wife is healed 3- Steal it, his wife expects him to get it 4- Don’t steal, it’s against the law 5- Steal it, everyone has right to live, regardless

of what law says 6- Should steal, human life of more value than

property rights

Heinz Dilemma Responses?

With a partner, craft a response from each stage(These are only examples, other right answers!)

1- Should not steal for fear of going to prison 2- Steal it, he’ll be happier if wife is healed 3- Steal it, his wife expects him to get it 4- Don’t steal, it’s against the law 5- Steal it, everyone has right to live, regardless

of what law says 6- Should steal, human life of more value than

property rights

Kohlberg Activities

Kohlberg’s Stages Part B

Personal Dilemmas Jonathan

Moral Dilemmas Jot down your

response. Is there pattern in

responses?

Think-Pair-Share

What other factors could account for moral development?

Religious text Conscience What feels right Absence of moral

decision making

Helping Kids Develop Morality

Provide decent adult role models. Positive feedback for good character &

behaviors. Empathy – ability to feel another person’s

feelings…motivation for a child to behave morally.

Talk out dilemmas, help children problem solve & draw conclusion.

Encourage to think through actions and be brave & stand up for what they believe in.

Closure

Describe the major changes from pre to conventional to post-conventional moral reasoning.

Pre-conventional – based on external consequences & personal gain

Conventional – based on rules of group to which individual belongs

Post-conventional – based on personal authority with self-chosen principles

Homework

QUIZ!

Infancy & Childhood Cognitive & Moral

Development