Moral Development Piaget Flashcards

Study Notes

Overview of Piaget’s Moral Development

Piaget, a cognitive psychologist, shares similarities with Kohlberg’s theories on moral development.
Emphasizes the evolution of children's moral reasoning as they age.

Research Techniques

Utilized informal interviews and observations to study moral development.
Involved young children, including his own, during play to gather data.

Key Aspects of Study

Investigated children's judgment of wrongdoing, considering both damage and intent.
Explored children’s perspectives on the consequences of actions and the origins of rules.

Piaget's Study Design

Aimed to assess how children's moral views and punishment perceptions change with age.
Used moral comparison stories with children of various ages to determine their moral reasoning.
Experiment involved critical questions regarding intentions behind actions and the resulting judgments.

Findings and Evaluations

Children under 10 judged primarily based on damage incurred and favored severe punishment.
Older children (over 10) understood the significance of intention, advocating for milder punishments.
Concluded that moral reasoning progresses to consider multiple factors beyond self-interest.
Criticized for the cognitive demands placed on children due to comparing two stories, leading to potential recall issues.

Piaget's Stage Theory on Moral Development

Highlights that morality becomes increasingly complex with age, transitioning from self-focused to considering others.

Stages of Moral Development

Stage One: Pre-Moral Judgments (0-5 years)
- Children exhibit no moral judgment; morality is unfamiliar.
- Begin to imitate rule-based behavior around age 4-5.
Stage Two: Moral Realism (5-9 years)
- Characterized by heteronomous morality where children adopt moral constraints imposed by adults.
- Judgments based on observable damage, with no regard for intentions.
- Belief in strict rules and expiatory punishment; harsh penalties for wrongdoing.
Stage Three: Moral Relativism (10+ years)
- Involves autonomous morality, where children recognize multiple perspectives on morality.
- Internalizes personal moral beliefs and considers intentions behind actions.
- Understands flexibility in rules based on mutual agreement and the appropriateness of punishment.

Strengths of Piaget's Theory

Provides evidence of two stages of moral development, highlighting the transition from external to internal reasoning.
Concurrent validity with other researchers like Kohlberg and Eisenberg supports the validity of the developmental stages.
Emphasizes the role of peer interactions in enhancing moral reasoning capabilities.

Limitations of Piaget's Theory

Experiences methodological flaws due to a small and unrepresentative sample focused on his children.
Underestimated children’s reasoning abilities, as shown by findings such as Nelson’s research on 3-year-olds considering intent.
Lacked attention to social and cultural implications, overlooking varying emphasis on religion or community norms in moral reasoning.

Description

Explore the key concepts of Piaget's moral development theories through these flashcards. Learn about his techniques, key aspects, and similarities with Kohlberg's ideas. Perfect for students looking to deepen their understanding of cognitive psychology.