1. Moral Development
Children’s moral development—an understanding of right and wrong—and ultimately a child’s behavior-is influenced by:
Affective or emotional component: guilt, empathy, sense of conscience
Cognitive component: how we think about right and wrong
Behavioral component: how we actually behave we experience temptation to lie, cheat, or violate moral rules

2. Affective Component Probably least understood Freudian theory or guilt
Temperament of child
Parenting styles
E.g., warmth-love, disciplinary approach

3. Behavioral Component
Can be quite independent of both affect and understanding (e.g., Clinton)
Again, is highly related to both personality and parenting
Again, the not well understood
E.g., knowledge vs behavior– teen pregnancy

4. Cognitive Component
While moral behavior depends on socialization, it is also a process of cognitive development
One very influential theory was developed by Lawrence Kohlberg
Kohlberg presented “moral dilemmas to children and studied how their answers changed with development

5. Story of two brothers and dad
Joe was working hard to earn money to attend a summer camp. He worked all year to make the necessary $500
Just before summer his Dad (a hard working, single father) decided he needed the money for a camping trip with friends
He told Joe to give him the money. Should Joe refuse?
Alex, Joe’s brother finds out that Joe really had earned $1,000 not $500. Should Alex tell the father?

6. Conscientious Objector?
During a time of war, should people be allowed out of the military because they morally do not believe in killing?

7. Kohlberg Moral Dilemma
In Europe, a woman was near death from cancer. One drug might save her, a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered . The druggist was charging $2,000, ten times what the drug cost him to make. The sick woman’s husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could get together only about half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said no. The husband got desperate and broke into the man’s store to steal the drug for his wife. Should the husband have done that? Why?

8. Heinz Morality Story

9. Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Judgment
On basis of longitudinal research, Kohlberg proposed that children develop moral reasoning through a specific series of stages that are discontinuous and hierarchical.
Each stage reflects a qualitatively different, more adequate way of thinking than the one before.
Kohlberg presented children with hypothetical moral dilemmas and questioned them about the issues involved.

10. Kohlberg’s 6 Stages
Age-related
Sequential
Universal

11. Kohlberg’s Stages Level I- Preconventional Level II- Conventional
Stage I: Rules obeyed for own sake and to avoid punishment
Stage II: Follow rules when in doing say is in one’s own best interest
Level II- Conventional
Stage 3: Good boy/girl stage. One must live up to what is expected by people close to you
Stage 4: Law and Order. Must uphold laws

12. Kohlberg’s Stages Level III: Post Conventional
Stage 5: Being aware that people hold a variety of values.
Stage 6: Understanding universal principles but also the importance of following self-chosen principles

13. 1. Punishment & Obedience
Consequences
Avoid punishment
No: Stealing is a crime; will go to jail
Yes: Drug is only worth $200, not $2000; probably won’t be a big crime

14. 2. Naïve Hedonism Consequences Personal rewards
No: Druggist needs to make back what it cost him and to make a living himself
Yes: Doesn’t want to lose his wife

15. Preconventional

16. 3. Good Boy/Good Girl Intentions Help, please others
No: Can’t be blamed if his wife dies; he still loves her & tried to do everything he could
Yes: He’s doing it because he loves his wife; he means well; it would be his fault if his wife died

17. 4. Law & Order Will of society Laws, rules maintain social order
No: Always wrong to steal; must abide by the law or everyone would steal
Yes: Wants to save his wife, but since he’s broken the law, must be willing to pay the consequences

18. 5. Social Contract Human values & rights Social contracts
Legality vs. Morality
No: The ends don’t justify the means even though good would come of it; must respect the laws that people have agreed to for the sake of society
Yes: Even though he would be breaking the law, in this case, it’s the only choice for saving his wife’s life

19. 6. Individual Principles of Conscience
Abstract principles
Universal justice, truth
Transcend laws, social contracts
Individual conscience
No: May be many other lives that depend on this drug, not just his wife; what is right is what is right for all people; must act on what is just, not what is legally correct or emotionally preferable
Yes: Preserving a life is the highest moral principle; although legally wrong, it is morally right

20. Increasing Complexity
Will go to jail
Doesn’t want to lose his wife
He loves his wife; can’t be blamed
It’s against the law
Must respect the agreements people have made with each other
Preserving life is the highest moral principle, above the law

21. Mean Percentage of Moral Reasoning by Age Group

22. Role of Parents and Peers