Moral development

 Moral Development“

"Moral development is the process by which people distinguish between right and wrong (morality) and engage in reasoning between the two (moral reasoning)."

The Importance of MORAL DEVELOPMENT

• Ethical decision-making

• Social Relationship

• Self-reflection and improvement

• Civic engagement

• Conflict Resolution

Factors:

• Family

• School

• Neighbourhood

• Religious Institution

• Age

• Playmates and friends

• Cultural and Societal norms Environment

Characteristics:

• Right or wrong decisions

• Self-Management

• Self-knowledge

• Moral identity

• Social intelligence

The Role of Teachers in Moral Development

•  Presenting Moral Ideas

• Celebration of the days

• Biographies of Greateman

• Co-curricular activities

How Kohlberg Developed His Theory

Kohlberg based his theory on a series of moral dilemmas presented to his study subjects. Participants were also interviewed to determine the reasoning behind their decisions in each scenario. 

An example was "Heinz Steals the Drug". In this scenario, a woman has cancer and her doctors believe that only one drug can save her. The drug was discovered by a local pharmacist and he was able to make it for $200 per dose and sell it for $2000 per dose. 

Stages of moral development

Kohlberg's theory is divided into three basic levels. At each level of moral development, there are two stages. Just as Piaget believed that not all people reach the highest levels of cognitive development, Kohlberg believed that not everyone reaches the highest stages of moral development.

Level 1. Pre-conventional Morality

• Stage 1 (Obedience and Punishment):

• Stage 2 (Individualism and Exchange):

Level 2. Conventional morality

• Stage 3 (Developing Good Interpersonal Relationships):

• Stage 4 (Maintaining Social Order):

Level 3. Post-conventional morality

• Stage 5 (Social Contract and Individual Rights):

• Stage 6 (Universal Principles):

Kohlberg’s final level of moral reasoning is based on ethical principles and abstract reasoning. At this stage, people follow these internalized ethical principles of justice, even if they conflict with laws and rules used in moral development.