Problem 6 1.5
Morals
Piaget’s theory of moral development
Pre moral stage (0-5yrs) – little concern for awareness of rules
Stage 1- Heteronomous morality (5-10yrs)
- Apply moral rules under authority – perceive power of adults to be
unquestionable
- Rules are permanent and unchangeable/ require strict audience – rigid –
imminent justice
- Emphasise consequences of an action/punishment for bad behaviour
- Superficial understanding of morality
- Breaking 15 glasses by accident is worse than breaking 1 on purpose
Stage 2 – Autonomous morality (10yrs +) - rules are alterable, consider intensions,
ideal reciprocity – do unto others as you would have then done unto you, tit-for-tat
Criticisms of piaget’s theory
Narrow description of moral development- underestimates child’s moral capabilities
Overlap in stages
No environmental or social factors
Kohlberg’s theory of moral development
Hierarchal/cumulative – each stage builds on the preceding one
Built 3 broad levels each with 2 substages
Study- Heinz dilemma (steal drugs for dying wife)
Invariant sequence of universal stages (everyone passes through the stages in a fixed
order
No particular age per stage
Stage promotion due to:
- cognitive dissonance – challenges your own views, notice weakness in current
thinking and thus are motivated to come up with new and more comprehensive
view point
- perspective taking/ role taking opportunities/ peer interactions – viewpoints
differ amongst people thus coordinate viewpoints in cooperation/ settle
differences independently
1. preconventional level
stage 1 – obedience and punishment orientation
- morality is based on the consequences of an act/ to avoid punishment
- pro- Heinz asked the druggist first and the drug only costs 200 not 2000
- against- Heinz will get jailed and he will be a criminal
Morals
Piaget’s theory of moral development
Pre moral stage (0-5yrs) – little concern for awareness of rules
Stage 1- Heteronomous morality (5-10yrs)
- Apply moral rules under authority – perceive power of adults to be
unquestionable
- Rules are permanent and unchangeable/ require strict audience – rigid –
imminent justice
- Emphasise consequences of an action/punishment for bad behaviour
- Superficial understanding of morality
- Breaking 15 glasses by accident is worse than breaking 1 on purpose
Stage 2 – Autonomous morality (10yrs +) - rules are alterable, consider intensions,
ideal reciprocity – do unto others as you would have then done unto you, tit-for-tat
Criticisms of piaget’s theory
Narrow description of moral development- underestimates child’s moral capabilities
Overlap in stages
No environmental or social factors
Kohlberg’s theory of moral development
Hierarchal/cumulative – each stage builds on the preceding one
Built 3 broad levels each with 2 substages
Study- Heinz dilemma (steal drugs for dying wife)
Invariant sequence of universal stages (everyone passes through the stages in a fixed
order
No particular age per stage
Stage promotion due to:
- cognitive dissonance – challenges your own views, notice weakness in current
thinking and thus are motivated to come up with new and more comprehensive
view point
- perspective taking/ role taking opportunities/ peer interactions – viewpoints
differ amongst people thus coordinate viewpoints in cooperation/ settle
differences independently
1. preconventional level
stage 1 – obedience and punishment orientation
- morality is based on the consequences of an act/ to avoid punishment
- pro- Heinz asked the druggist first and the drug only costs 200 not 2000
- against- Heinz will get jailed and he will be a criminal
