Moral Development Theory Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Moral Development Theory?

Moral Development Theory is an influential theory in the field of psychology that seeks to explain how individuals develop their sense of morality. This theory was developed by renowned psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg, and it has become one of the most widely accepted theories in the area of moral development. The main focus of this theory is on how individuals come to understand moral concepts and apply them when making decisions or judgments about right and wrong.Kohlberg’s theory suggests that people pass through three stages of moral development during childhood and adolescence. The first stage, known as pre-conventional morality, involves young children who are more focused on their own needs than those of others. They tend to view rules as being necessary for getting what they want and may resort to manipulation or even aggression if they cannot get what they want.The second stage, known as conventional morality, involves adolescents who are more aware of social norms and accept them as a means to obtain approval from authority figures such as parents or teachers. At this stage, individuals begin to understand why certain actions are viewed as morally right or wrong based on societal expectations rather than just personal wants or desires. The third stage is post-conventional morality which occurs during adulthood when individuals move beyond traditional values to form their own ethical system based on personal beliefs and values rather than external guidelines. At this point in time, individuals have a better understanding about moral principles such as justice, rights and autonomy which allow them to make decisions that are deemed socially responsible despite any potential repercussions (i.e., going against societal norms). Modern research has suggested that there might be other stages beyond these three which involve increasingly complex levels of reasoning but these remain largely theoretical at present due to lack of empirical evidence supporting them (Hoffman et al., 2015). In any case, Moral Development Theory remains an important framework for understanding how people develop their sense of morality throughout life which can help inform intervention strategies for those with behavioral issues related to poor decision making skills or low moral reasoning ability due to developmental delays or learning disabilities (Bennett et al., 2011).