Moral Development in Early Childhood

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Questions and Answers

What is morality?

A set of rules that must be followed

Our understanding of the difference between right and wrong, or good and bad behavior (correct)

A way to avoid conflict with others

A type of punishment for bad behavior

What is a moral dilemma?

A problem that can be solved with money

An ambiguous situation that requires a person to make a moral decision (correct)

A situation that has a clear right or wrong answer

A situation that only affects one person

What is the main issue in the Heinz Dilemma?

A husband is unable to borrow money to buy a drug

A scientist is refusing to discount a life-saving drug

A woman is ill and needs a drug to save her life (correct)

A laboratory is not willing to help a sick woman

Why is cheating a persistent problem in classrooms?

Because students have different levels of moral development Signup and view all the answers

What is Kohlberg's theory of moral development related to?

Children's moral development Signup and view all the answers

What should a teacher consider when responding to cheating in the classroom?

The student's level of moral development Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the Heinz Dilemma?

It presents a moral dilemma that requires a decision Signup and view all the answers

Why is moral development important in early childhood education?

It helps children develop moral values and principles Signup and view all the answers

According to Kohlberg's theory, what is the primary focus of Stage 4 morality?

Law and order, duty, and respect for authority Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of adults, according to Kohlberg, attain the post-conventional level of morality?

20-25% Signup and view all the answers

At what stage of moral development do individuals begin to question laws and societal values?

Stage 5 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Stage 6 morality, according to Kohlberg?

Universal moral principles Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of Pre-Conventional morality, according to Kohlberg?

Most children have this type of morality Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between Conventional and Post-Conventional morality?

Conventional morality focuses on law and order, while Post-Conventional morality focuses on universal moral principles Signup and view all the answers

What is the order in which people progress through Kohlberg's stages of moral development?

In a fixed order, from Stage 1 to Stage 6 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary criticism of Kohlberg's theory?

It is culturally biased and does not apply to all cultures Signup and view all the answers

What was Officer Brown's profession?

Police officer Signup and view all the answers

What was Heinz doing when Officer Brown saw him?

Behaving suspiciously near the laboratory Signup and view all the answers

What was the possible punishment for Heinz if convicted?

Up to 2 years in jail Signup and view all the answers

Who created the theory of moral development?

Lawrence Kohlberg Signup and view all the answers

At what level of morality do children understand the conventions of society?

LEVEL II Conventional Morality Signup and view all the answers

What is the orientation of Stage 2 of LEVEL I Pre-conventional Morality?

Instrumental Relativist Orientation Signup and view all the answers

At what age does Stage 3 of LEVEL II Conventional Morality typically occur?

7-12 years old Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of Stage 3 of LEVEL II Conventional Morality?

Concern for or the opinions of others Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Moral Development and Early Childhood Learning

Morality refers to understanding the difference between right and wrong or good and bad behavior, and is a force that motivates our behavior.

What is Moral Dilemma?

A moral dilemma is an ambiguous situation that requires a person to make a moral decision, causing conflicts and justifying the morality of their choices.

The Heinz Dilemma

The Heinz Dilemma is a scenario where a woman is very ill and needs a 4,000drug,butherhusband,Heinz,canonlyraise4,000 drug, but her husband, Heinz, can only raise 4,000drug,butherhusband,Heinz,canonlyraise2,000, and must decide whether to steal the drug or not.
The dilemma raises questions about morality and justifying the morality of one's choices.

Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

Lawrence Kohlberg's theory describes how one's sense of right and wrong changes with age, and how we develop a sense of justice and learn to make moral judgments.

Levels and Stages of Moral Development

Level I: Pre-Conventional Morality
- Stage 1 (2-3 to 5-6 years old): Punishment-Obedience Orientation, where consequences of acts determine whether they're good or bad.
- Stage 2 (5-7 years old or up to age 9): Instrumental Relativist Orientation, where ethics are based on self-interest and exchanging favors.
Level II: Conventional Morality
- Stage 3 (7-12 years old): Good Boy-Nice Girl Orientation, where ethical decisions are based on concern for others' opinions.
- Stage 4 (can start as early as 10 years old): Law and Order Orientation, where right behavior consists in doing one's duty, showing respect for authority, and maintaining the social order.
Level III: Post-Conventional Morality
- Stage 5 (can start as early as 12 years old): Social Contract Orientation, where rules and laws represent agreements among people about behavior that benefits society.
- Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principle Orientation, where individuals' judgments of good and bad are influenced by universal moral principles, and laws and societal values have a certain validity.

Key Points about Kohlberg's Theory

According to Kohlberg, people go through these six stages in the above order.
Most children have a preconventional morality, and most adults have a conventional one.
Kohlberg estimated that only 20 to 25% of the adult population attains the post-conventional level of morality.

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Description

Explore the concept of morality, moral dilemmas, and the Heinz Dilemma in the context of early childhood learning and development.