Answer to Question #295696 in Psychology for Ishu

Question

Explain how our cognitive and moral development progresses from infancy to adulthood using Piaget’s and Kohlberg’s theory of development. Provide relevant and appropriate examples to illustrate your explanation

Answer 1

Pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional moral reasoning are the three degrees of moral reasoning established by Kohlberg. Each level corresponds to a more complex stage of moral development. A child's sense of morality is externally regulated throughout the preconventional stage. The rules of authority figures such as parents and teachers are accepted and believed by children. A child with pre-conventional morality has not yet accepted or internalized society's rules about what is right and wrong, and instead is more concerned with the exterior repercussions of specific actions.

A child's concept of morality is linked to personal and societal interactions at the conventional level. Children continue to obey authority figures' norms, but only because they believe it is important to maintain pleasant relationships and society order. During these periods, rules and customs are strictly followed, and the propriety or justice of a rule is rarely questioned.

A person's sense of morality is described in terms of more abstract principles and ideals at the postconventional level. Some laws are now thought to be unjust and should be modified or repealed. This stage is defined by a developing awareness that people are separate from society and that they are free to disregard norms that contradict their own values. Post-conventional moralists live by their own ethical principles—principles that often encompass such fundamental human rights as life, liberty, and justice—and see norms as useful but evolving mechanisms rather than absolute commands that must be followed without question.Because post-conventional people value their own moral judgment of a circumstance over social standards, their behavior, particularly at stage six, can be mistaken for that of pre-conventional people. Many people, according to some thinkers, may never attain this degree of abstract moral reasoning.