1. Feldman Module 11-1

2. What is moral development? Changes in thoughts, feelings and behaviors regarding standards of right and wrong Intrapersonal Interpersonal – regulates social interaction & arbitrates conflict

3. Is there Universal Morality? Yes, similar moral prescriptions are found in all major religions. Civilizations will not success where there are no laws against murder, theft, and lies and no regulation of sexual behavior.

4. Does moral development require parental discipline? Humanist Psychology says No - Hoffman (1970) Cautions against Love withdrawal (anxiety) Don’t like you; going to leave you Cautions against Power assertion (hostility) Spanking, threatening, removing privileges Makes parents appear to have poor self-control Recommends Induction Reasoning, consequences Works best with older children, middle SES

5. Other Psychologists Have Different Advice Some strategies work better- Thompson Warm-responsive parent-child relationships Secure attachment linked to conscience development Proactive strategies Conversational dialogue Other strategies – Be a good role model Foster an internal sense of morality Tell them about expected behaviors Use reason with punishment

6. Reasoning About Rules Social Conventional Reasoning Social rules & conventions are arbitrary & created by people Moral Reasoning Moral rules are obligatory, widely-accepted, and somewhat impersonal Ethics exist apart from social convention

7. Morality - Children & Rules Turiel – 1978, 1983 5-year-old children conceptualize the social world in three separate domains Moral Social-conventional Psychological (personal) They realize that the rules for each of these have different levels of changeability.

8. Moral Behavior among Children Factors (Behaviorist view) Reinforcement & punishment Depends upon consistency & timing Models Depends upon characteristics such as warmth & attractiveness Situations Children behave inconsistently depending upon peer pressure, likelihood of being caught, personal characteristics Self-control Convinced by reasoning, punishment

9. Social-cognitive Theory of Morality Albert Bandura Moral competence – knowledge, capabilities, skills, awareness of rules Moral performance – motivation, rewards, incentives Self-regulation – avoiding self-condemnation and fostering self-satisfaction & self-worth

10. Moral Emotion - Guilt Sigmund Freud The desire to avoid feeling guilty is the foundation of moral behavior. Superego consists of: Ego ideal – rewards by conveying a sense of pride and personal value Conscience – punishes disapproved behaviors by making the child feel guilty & worthless

11. Moral Emotion - Empathy Responding to another’s feelings with a similar emotional response Examples of development of empathy Some infants show global empathy 1-2 years, may feel discomfort but cannot translate into action Early childhood – add perspective-taking 10-12 may feel social or humanitarian empathy

12. Kohlberg’s Theory Heinz dilemma – Wife near death One drug might save her Cost $200 to make; charged $2000 Heinz raised $1000, offered to pay later Druggist said no Heinz stole the drug

13. Kohlberg’s Theory Level 1: Preconventional External rewards & punishments Level 2: Conventional Abide by internal standards of others (law or parents) Level 3: Postconventional Recognizes alternative codes, explores options, chooses one

14. Kohlberg - Preconventional Stage 1 – heteronomous Moral thinking is tied to punishment Stage 2 – individualism, instrumental purpose & exchange “live & let live” Equity of exchange: “I do you a favor; you do me one.”

15. Kohlberg - Conventional Stage 3: Mutual interpersonal expectations, relationships & interpersonal conformity Value trust, caring & loyalty to others; children like “good girl; good boy” Stage 4: Social systems morality Understanding the social order, law, justice and duty

16. Kohlberg – Post conventional Stage 5: Social contract or utility and individual rights Values, rights & principles undergird the law; laws are evaluated by how well they protect human rights & values Stage 6: Universal ethical principles Moral standard based on universal human rights; will follow conscience rather than law

17. Kohlberg Stage 7? Cosmic perspective See one’s self as one with the universe Already a religious position - Hindu, New Age

18. Kohlberg’s Critics Link between moral thought & moral behavior? Albert Bandura – people do not usually engage in harmful conduct until they have justified the morality of their actions to themselves Socially worthy cause God’s will

19. Can Morality be Examined Apart from Religion? Religion provides the assumptions which underpin moral reasoning and decisions. Religion takes morality from individual to collective and universal. Religion provides the authority for moral prescriptions.

20. Kohlberg’s Critics Rest – Assessment techniques What are the moral issues? Stages 5 & 6 do not stand up across cultures Example – Buddhist monks & emphasis on compassion India – social rules are inevitable

21. Kohlberg’s Critics Haidt (2008) Traditionalist [collectivist] societies expect individuals to limit their desires and play their roles within the group “Western conservatives also seem to be morally challenged.” Conclusion: Kolhberg has an individualist, liberal, progress bias.

22. Kohlberg’s Critics Carol Gilligan – gender bias Justice perspective – male norm that puts principles above people Care perspective – moral perspective that views people in terms of connectedness and emphasizes relationships & caring for others