PSYC 205 Lecture Notes - Social Desirability Bias, Moral Reasoning, Radium
Moral Development
Components of Morality
Cognition - how you feel about a certain task
Affect - feelings that surround right or wrong
Behavior - our behavior is influenced by our thoughts and feelings and we repeat an action
depending on whether we get charged by it in the future or not
All related with one another BUT NOT ALWAYS
Development of Moral Reasoning
Cognitive Theories
oPiaget's Theory of Moral Development (The Moral Judgement of the Child (1932/65))
Stage 1: Morality of Constraint
Less than 7 yrs. old
Rules are unchangeable
Weigh consequences more than intentions in evaluating the morality of
actions
Authority is unquestionable
Transitional Period
Age 7 or 8 to age 10
Typically more interactions with peers than previously
Interactions are more egalitarian
In games with peers, children learn that rules can be constructed and
changed by the group and also learn to take one another's perspective and to
cooperate; start to value fairness and equality and start to become more
autonomous in their thinking about moral issues.
Stage 2: Autonomous Morality (aka. Moral Relativism)
Age 11 or 12
Children realize that rules are social products that can be changed
Consider motivates and intentions when evaluating behavior
Believe that punishments should "fit the crime"
oKohlberg - Moral reasoning
Adults and children reason differently - asked people what they would do in a
moral dilemma and why
Moral dilemmas - they pick the law vs. human need
Kohlberg's Moral Dilemma: Heinz
Woman near death from cancer. One drug that doctors thought might save her - a form of
radium that was expensive. Drug was expensive to make but druggist was charging 10x more than
it cost to make. Should sick woman's husband (HEINZ) steal or no?
Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Reasoning
oLevel 1: Preconventional Morality
Morality is externally controlled
Stage 1 - Punishment and Obedience Orientation
Avoiding punishment (fear of punishment!)
Focus on consequences of behavior
Stage 2 - Instrumental and Exchange Orientation
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
