Piaget's and Kohlberg's Theories of Moral Development

Piaget’s Theory of Moral Development

Ø Jean Piaget- the Swiss psychologist best known for his theory of cognitive development, also proposed a theory of moral development in the early 1930s. It was influenced by his cognitive theory and had the same basic format, being based on stages that children are supposed to pass through at certain approximate ages.

Stages of Piaget’s Theory of Moral Development

v First Stage -Premoral Judgement (from birth until 5 y/o)

In this stage, children simply do not understand the concept of rules and have no idea of morality, internal or external.

v Second Stage - Moral Realism from five to nine y/o. Children in this stage now understand the concept of rules, but they are seen as external and immutable. Children obey rules largely because they are there. Since a rule tells you what you're not supposed to do, moral realist children evaluate wrongdoing in terms of its consequences, not the intention of the wrongdoer.

v Third Stage Moral Relativity (7 years of age)

Children who have reached this stage recognize that rules are not fixed, but can be changed by mutual consent, and they start to develop their own internal morality which is no longer the same as external rules.

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

Ø Laurence Kohlberg (Jewish-American psychologist) - believes that while children are thought to be influenced by many individuals or groups, much of their moral development is generated by maturational factors and is related by cognitive growth.

· Kohlberg used a method called clinical interview in his study of how children develop moral reasoning. He used Heinz dilemma. He found out that that children in different stages of development responded to the moral dilemma in different ways.

THREE Stages of KOHLBERGS Theory of Moral Development.

· Level 1 Pre-conventional Morality ( 9 years-older)

Children’s judgment are based on external criteria. Standards of right or wrong are laid down by authority.

§ Stage 1 – Behavior is based on the desire to avoid severe physical punishment by a superior power.

· Level 2 Conventional Morality ( adolescents)

Children’s judgments are based on the norms and expectations of the group.

§ Stage 2 – Action are based largely on satisfying one’s own personal needs.

§ Stage 3 - Good behavior is that which pleases others and

judgments are based on intentions.

§ Stage 4 – What is right is what is expected.

· Level 3 Post conventional Morality ( 20 years or older)

The individuals recognizes the arbitrariness of social and legal conventions.

§ Stage 5 - Behavior recognizes the laws as arbitrary and changeable. For aspects of life not govern by laws, right or wrong are personal decisions based on agreements or contracts.

§ Stage 6 – Morality is based on respect for others rather than personal desires .The individuals conform to both social standards and to internalized ideals to avoid self condemnation rather than to avoid social censure.