1. Slide 1 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. LIFE-SPAN DEVELOPMENT 13 A Topical Approach to John W. Santrock Moral Development, Values and Religion

2. Slide 2 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. What Is Moral Development? Changes in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors regarding standards of right and wrong Dimensions: –Intrapersonal: values and sense of self –Interpersonal: focus on what people should do with regard to others Domains of Moral Development

3. Slide 3 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Piaget’s Theory of Moral Development Heteronymous morality Autonomous morality Immanent justice Rules are seen as unchangeable, removed from the control of people. Consequences of an act determine “badness.” (4-7 years) Becomes aware that rules and laws are created by people; in judging an action, one should consider actor’s intentions as well as consequences (10 years and older) If a rule is broken, punishment will follow inevitably and immediately. Domains of Moral Development

4. Slide 4 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development Internalization—developmental change from behavior that is externally controlled to behavior that is controlled by internal standards and principles. Domains of Moral Development

5. Slide 5 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Kohlberg’s Level 1: Preconventional Reasoning Lowest level No internalization of moral values –Moral reasoning controlled by external rewards and punishment –Stage 1. Heteronomous morality –Stage 2. Individualism, instrumental purpose, and exchange Domains of Moral Development

6. Slide 6 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Kohlberg’s Level 2: Conventional Reasoning Internalization is intermediate –Individuals abide by certain standards, but they are standards of others –Stage 3. Mutual interpersonal expectations, relationships, and interpersonal conformity –Stage 4. Social systems morality Domains of Moral Development

7. Slide 7 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Kohlberg’s Level 3: Postconventional Reasoning Highest level Morality completely internalized Some values, rights or principles may transcend the law. –Stage 5. Social contract or utility and individual rights –Stage 6. Universal ethical principles Domains of Moral Development

8. Slide 8 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Age and Kohlberg’s Stages Domains of Moral Development

9. Slide 9 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Kohlberg’s Critics Too much emphasis on moral thought and not enough emphasis on moral behavior More attention should be paid to the way moral development is assessed Culturally biased Domains of Moral Development

10. Slide 10 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Justice and Care Perspectives Justice perspective—focuses on rights of the individual Care perspective—views people in terms of their connectedness with others and emphasizes interpersonal relationships, and concern for others Carol Gilligan argues that women may focus more on care than justice. Domains of Moral Development

11. Slide 11 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Moral Behavior Basic Processes –Reinforcement, punishment, imitation –Behavior is situation-specific Resistance to Temptation and Self-Control –Influenced by cognitive factors Social Cognitive Theory of Morality –Moral competence –based on awareness of moral rules and ability to produce moral behaviors –Moral performance - actually performing them Domains of Moral Development

12. Slide 12 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Psychoanalytic Theory: The Super Ego and Morality Ego ideal –Rewards child with sense of pride when child acts according to ideal standards Conscience –Punishes child for behaviors disapproved of by making child feel guilty and worthless Domains of Moral Development

13. Slide 13 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Empathy Reacting to another’s feelings with emotional response similar to other’s feelings Cognitive component - perspective taking Develops from infant’s global empathy

14. Slide 14 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Emotion and Moral Development: The Contemporary Perspective When strongly felt, both positive and negative feelings contribute to moral behavior –Positive: empathy, sympathy, admiration, self-esteem –Negative: anger, outrage, shame, guilt Domains of Moral Development

15. Slide 15 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Parental Discipline and Moral Development Love withdrawal Power assertion Induction Contexts of Moral Development

16. Slide 16 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Morality in Schools: The Hidden Curriculum Pervasive moral atmosphere that characterizes schools Evidenced by classroom rules, modeling by teachers and administrators, texts and learning materials Contexts of Moral Development

17. Slide 17 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Character Education Direct moral education approach that involves teaching students basic moral literacy to prevent immoral behavior or doing harm to themselves or others Examples: –Character Counts –Service Learning Contexts of Moral Development

18. Slide 18 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Service Learning Form of education that promotes social responsibility and service to community Benefits the recipient as well as the student Contexts of Moral Development

19. Slide 19 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Prosocial Behavior Behavior intended to benefit others May be a stable personal characteristic Gender differences: females show more prosocial behaviors than males –kindness –considerateness –sharing

20. Slide 20 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Altruism and Reciprocity Altruism Unselfish interest in helping another person Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior Reciprocity Obligation to return a favor with a favor

21. Slide 21 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Fairness: Principles for Sharing Equality Merit Benevolence Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior

22. Slide 22 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Conduct Disorder Age-inappropriate actions and attitudes Violate: – Family expectations –Society’s norms –Personal or property rights of others Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior

23. Slide 23 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Juvenile Delinquency Great variety of behaviors –Index offenses—criminal acts –Status offenses—less serious acts illegal only when they are performed by youth Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior

24. Slide 24 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Antecedents of Delinquency Authority conflict Covert Acts Overt Aggression Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior

25. Slide 25 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Violence and Youth Early involvement with drugs and alcohol Easy access to weapons, especially handguns Association with antisocial, deviant peer groups Pervasive exposure to violence in the media Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior

26. Slide 26 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Values, Spirituality, Religion Spirituality: a sense of connectedness to a sacred other Values: beliefs and attitudes about the way things should be Values, Religion, Spirituality, and Meaning in Life

27. Slide 27 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Changing Freshman Life Goals Values, Religion, Spirituality, and Meaning in Life

28. Slide 28 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Shifting values Over last 20 years, young adults have shown an increased concern for personal well-being and a decreased concern for the well-being of others. Two aspects of values, self-fulfillment and self-expression, characterize many of today’s youth.

29. Slide 29 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Positive Role of Religion in Adolescence Religion important to most adolescents. Those who view religion as meaningful part of life have: –Less drug use –Better grades –More social acceptable behavior –Positive role models –Possible services from inner-city religious organizations Values, Religion, Spirituality, and Meaning in Life

30. Slide 30 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Religion and Sexuality in Adolescence Aspects of religiousness related to –Fewer partners outside romantic relationships –Perception of high risk from unprotected sex –Responsible contraceptive use –Fewer sexual encounters Values, Religion, Spirituality, and Meaning in Life

31. Slide 31 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Religion and Spirituality in Adulthood Important to adults around the world –70% of Americans religious More important to women than men Americans becoming less committed to particular religious faiths Individual differences in religion in middle adulthood Values, Religion, Spirituality, and Meaning in Life

32. Slide 32 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Religion in older adults Increase in spirituality between late middle adulthood and late older adulthood Related to well-being & life satisfaction –Self-esteem –Health –Longevity Psychological benefits –Face impending death, accept losses of age –Find meaningfulness –Social community, generativity Values, Religion, Spirituality, and Meaning in Life

33. Slide 33 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Level of Spirituality in Four Adult Age Periods Values, Religion, Spirituality, and Meaning in Life

34. Slide 34 © 2005 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Meaning in Life Need for purpose Need for values Need for a sense of efficacy Need for self-worth Values, Religion, Spirituality, and Meaning in Life