Introducing
Your new presentation assistant.
Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.
Trending searches
Moral Development Theory
Pre-conventional morality consists of two stages, obedience & punishment and individualism & exchange. Lasting from infancy to approximately 9 years it explains how the decisions children make are shaped by the expectations and consequences set by adults.
There are two stages that develop during the conventional morality phase, developing good interpersonal relationships and maintaining social order.
During the post-conventional morality stage individuals begin to develop an abstract understanding of principals of morality. There are two stages included which are social contract and individual rights, and universal principles.
Jean Piaget originally posited the theory of moral development. Interested in what children think, Piaget focused on three areas, children's understanding of rules, understanding of moral responsibility, and understanding of justice. Lawrence Kohlberg built on Piaget's theory by proposing three levels of moral development that followed the lifespan. Within his theory, people move through the stages in a fixed order that is also tied to cognitive development. As a person ages, their moral reasoning changes. Moral development theory focuses on the evolution of understanding morality from infancy through adulthood.
The APA defines moral development as the gradual development of a person's sense of right or wrong, conscience, values, ethical, and social attitudes and behavior (APA 2022).
Moral development theory is the study of how individuals develop and understand their own morality, the ages in which they pass through each stage and what influences the development of morality.
Childhood- Using words to express anger or frustration versus hitting or kicking.
Adolescent- Turning in late assignments for half credit is better then not turning them in at all.
Adulthood- Understanding that it is better to work extra hours when in need of money versus theft.
Understanding the moral development theory in the field of CFLE is imperative to understanding the individuals one is working with. As we know through the moral development theory, each age will present with it's own unique understanding to morals and behaviors. What is helpful for an adult might be too advanced for a child to understand. The principles within moral development will help a CFLE by being able to address strengths and weakness in an age appropriate manner as well as give them a better understanding of the struggles facing an individual or family they are working with.
APA. (2022). Moral Development. https://dictionary.apa.org/moral-development
Cherry, K. (2021). Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development. VeryWell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/kohlbergs-theory-of-moral-development-2795071
McLeod, S. (2015). Piaget's Theory of Moral Development. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/piaget-moral.html
Buy Sites. (n.d.) Jean Piaget. jean piaget was a (s1vipshop.tk)
Castelfranchi, C. (2003). Formalising the informal?: Dynamic social order, bottom-up social control, and spontaneous normative relations. Journal of Applied Logic. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1570-8683(03)00004-1
CDC. (2021). Toddler Years. Toddlers (1-2 years old) | CDC
CEJA Law. (2020). Theft. Are Shoplifting and Petty Theft the Same Thing? - Ceja Law Firm PLLC (cejalawfirmtx.com)
Everding, G. (2016). Morality. Washington University St. Louis. People stay true to moral colors, studies find - The Source - Washington University in St. Louis (wustl.edu)
HeartMind. (2014). Moral Development. Moral Development | Heart-Mind Online (heartmindonline.org)
Morin, A. (2020). What is morality. What Is Morality? (verywellmind.com)
Totally History. (2020). Lawrence Kohlberg. Lawrence Kohlberg Biography - Life of American Psychologist (totallyhistory.com)