Exploring in Modules, Module 8 Module 8 Adolescence Intellectual and Moral Development

Exploring in Modules, Module 8 Cognitive Development Developing Reasoning Power The nature and existence of God Begin to detect hypocrisy –Developing Morality Lawrence Kohlberg

Exploring in Modules, Module 8 Heinz Steals the Drug In Europe, a woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times what the drug cost him to make. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2,000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman's husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could only get together about $ 1,000 which is 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, I discovered the drug and I'm going to make money from it." So Heinz got desperate and broke into the man's store to steal the drug-for his wife. Should the husband have done that? (Kohlberg, 1963, p. 19)

How they are answered: Pre-conventional morality (to age 9): –What it says about this age: The harsher the punishment the worse the transgression. (Part 1 of Stage 1) What’s in it for me? I could be a “hero”. (Part 2 of Stage 1) Exploring in Modules, Module 8

Conventional morality: –Conformity with society: The Golden Rule dominates (very common position to be locked into to adulthood). (Part 1 of Stage 2) –Law and Order: If a person breaks one law, how can we be sure that that person will not break other laws?” (Part 2 of Stage 2)

Post-conventional morality: Individual can be separate from society. –Compromise and adjustment are the rule of the day. –Contractual relationship exists within society. –People have rights, i.e. the right to live. –(Part 1 of Stage 3) Deontic Perspective: –Rules that are immoral are just to violate. »By being true to justice, on is just in following this dictum.

Final Remarks of Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development Cultural bias might exist: All children in all cultures mover from Preconventional to Conventional. Many Anglo-Europeans move from Conventional to Post-Conventional. Why? Need to teach action not just discussion – empathy, discipline (delayed gratification). Exploring in Modules, Module 8

Social Development The Big Part of Adolescence Exploring in Modules, Module 8

Forming an Identity Self in various scenarios. Looking for a “self- definition” in those roles. Gets better with age. For most, not always solved in adolescence. Why? Exploring in Modules, Module 8

Developing Intimacy Sixth stage of Erickson’s Eight. Once comfortable with oneself (see Identity Stage) one will seek an emotionally close relationship. Exploring in Modules, Module 8

Gender and Social Connectedness Carol Gilligan: –Boys: individualist identity. –Girls: want to “make connections” –Why the difference? (see pages 124-5) Exploring in Modules, Module 8 See the "Love Lab": Analyzing Differences Between Men and Women's Brains Discovery Education Streaming

Separating from Parents Exploring in Modules, Module 8