Moral Development

Moral Action Morality is doing the right thing What we do depends on our thinking and social influences b/c of social influences people’s willingness to cheat, discriminate, smoke are not determined by attitudes

Lawrence Kohlberg Sought to describe the development of moral reasoning – right and wrong

3 levels 1. Preconventional morality – before the age of 9 Obey either to avoid punishment or to gain rewards Satisfying one’s own needs Also made on the principle of reciprocity “does the victim deserve it?”

2. Conventional Level By early adolescence Care for others, uphold laws and social rules because they are laws and rules -action may gain social approval or maintain social order

3. Postconventional Morality Usually found in adults -affirms people’s agreed-upon rights – ex. People have the right to live Or follows what one personally perceives as basic ethical principles Fairness, truth, justice, not impulsive “is there a higher good that can come from the action I do?”