Moral development focuses on a persons actions, behaviors, and thoughts which leads to it's three major components which are cognition, behavior, and emotions. The cognitive component is based on what someone thinks about, how they think about that and why they think that way. The behavioral component is based on the actions that someone actually does when they are presented a dilemma. The emotional component is based on how someone feels about an action and what feelings they associate with certain actions.
Piaget's Theory of Moral Development
Piaget was most interested in children's moral judgements and how they come to understand rules, justice and regulations. He was also interested in how these moral judgments change over time and why they change. The concept that these rules and regulations and moral judgments are passed down from generation to generation was presented by Piaget. He then established two was of thinking when it comes to moral issues, these ways of thinking are called: Heteronomous Moral Development and Autonomous Moral Development. Heteronomous moral reasoning is based on the objective consequences and the consequences then determines how bad or wrong something is. Autonomous moral reasoning is based on the intentions behind the action, and the action then determines how bad or wrong something is. The shift from heteronomous reasoning to autonomous reasoning occurs through the interactions an individual has with same age peers by settling disagreements and cooperating together.
Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development
Kohlberg expanded Piaget's theory to examine moral development throughout the lifespan, rather than just childhood. His theory consists of six stages and occur in the set order starting at stage one and so on. This theory claims that social development is essential for moral development as well as cognitive development. Along with having six stages, there are also three levels that separate the stages in Kohlberg's theory as well.
Piaget's Theory of Moral Development
Piaget was most interested in children's moral judgements and how they come to understand rules, justice and regulations. He was also interested in how these moral judgments change over time and why they change. The concept that these rules and regulations and moral judgments are passed down from generation to generation was presented by Piaget. He then established two was of thinking when it comes to moral issues, these ways of thinking are called: Heteronomous Moral Development and Autonomous Moral Development. Heteronomous moral reasoning is based on the objective consequences and the consequences then determines how bad or wrong something is. Autonomous moral reasoning is based on the intentions behind the action, and the action then determines how bad or wrong something is. The shift from heteronomous reasoning to autonomous reasoning occurs through the interactions an individual has with same age peers by settling disagreements and cooperating together.
Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development
Kohlberg expanded Piaget's theory to examine moral development throughout the lifespan, rather than just childhood. His theory consists of six stages and occur in the set order starting at stage one and so on. This theory claims that social development is essential for moral development as well as cognitive development. Along with having six stages, there are also three levels that separate the stages in Kohlberg's theory as well.
Social Domain Theory
This theory explains that very young children are able to distinguish that harmful behaviors are worse than authority dependent behaviors. The question of if children are born with somewhat or a sense for moral reasoning arises from this theory. Elliot Turiel explains that children and adults see individual, social-conventional, and universal issues as three separate entities. Social-conventional rules are authority dependent and culturally dependent. These are identified as rules because someone with authority said it is a rule. Moral rules are generalized across all contexts and are authority independent. These are rules that focus on welfare, justice, and welfare.
Moral Behavior
A person's behavior is influenced by reinforcement and observational learning. B.F. Skinner is a very influential behaviorist theorist who theorized that a person's behavior is influenced be reinforcement. A child who does not have the cognitive development and emotional regulation behavior is based on the reinforcement and punishment he or she receives for an action. When clear standards and codes of conduct are presented children are more easily able to learn appropriate behaviors. Skinner claims that when reinforcement declines, motivation directly declines for the behavior. Punishment is to be delivered immediately after a behavior and the punishment must as be consistent so the child understands what the consequence is for.
This theory explains that very young children are able to distinguish that harmful behaviors are worse than authority dependent behaviors. The question of if children are born with somewhat or a sense for moral reasoning arises from this theory. Elliot Turiel explains that children and adults see individual, social-conventional, and universal issues as three separate entities. Social-conventional rules are authority dependent and culturally dependent. These are identified as rules because someone with authority said it is a rule. Moral rules are generalized across all contexts and are authority independent. These are rules that focus on welfare, justice, and welfare.
Moral Behavior
A person's behavior is influenced by reinforcement and observational learning. B.F. Skinner is a very influential behaviorist theorist who theorized that a person's behavior is influenced be reinforcement. A child who does not have the cognitive development and emotional regulation behavior is based on the reinforcement and punishment he or she receives for an action. When clear standards and codes of conduct are presented children are more easily able to learn appropriate behaviors. Skinner claims that when reinforcement declines, motivation directly declines for the behavior. Punishment is to be delivered immediately after a behavior and the punishment must as be consistent so the child understands what the consequence is for.
Social Modeling
Albert Bandura theorized that children learn form their of experiences and that how they chose their behaviors. These behaviors are learn vicariously and can come from watching other children and adults. When children know see another child being praised and rewarded for a certain action they are likely to adapt the behavior as their own so they can receive praise too. On the other hand when a child is being punished and another child is watching they are likely to be discourage to model that behavior because they saw what happens when they do.
Albert Bandura theorized that children learn form their of experiences and that how they chose their behaviors. These behaviors are learn vicariously and can come from watching other children and adults. When children know see another child being praised and rewarded for a certain action they are likely to adapt the behavior as their own so they can receive praise too. On the other hand when a child is being punished and another child is watching they are likely to be discourage to model that behavior because they saw what happens when they do.
How has this influenced by development
When I was younger my cousin lived with us for a while and she is 6 years older than me. I remember acting the same way she did and when she made a good grade or did something praise worthy I tried my best to do the same. Likewise I remember seeing her getting in trouble for certain behaviors and I made sure to not act that way because I did not want to get punished. As far as my morals go I feel like they have stayed fairly consistent because my parents were very adamant about teaching me right from wrong. However, in high school getting mixed up in the wrong crowd did sway them sometimes because of peer pressure.
Why it is important to understand for my career path
Occupational therapy is a job that requires a lot of patients as well as being able to encourage patients to work hard to recover. By providing reinforcement to patients it could be very beneficial and encourage them to continue their therapy. The reward could be seeing a difference in their recovery process which is a reward provided by themselves but is achieved through getting help from their therapist.
When I was younger my cousin lived with us for a while and she is 6 years older than me. I remember acting the same way she did and when she made a good grade or did something praise worthy I tried my best to do the same. Likewise I remember seeing her getting in trouble for certain behaviors and I made sure to not act that way because I did not want to get punished. As far as my morals go I feel like they have stayed fairly consistent because my parents were very adamant about teaching me right from wrong. However, in high school getting mixed up in the wrong crowd did sway them sometimes because of peer pressure.
Why it is important to understand for my career path
Occupational therapy is a job that requires a lot of patients as well as being able to encourage patients to work hard to recover. By providing reinforcement to patients it could be very beneficial and encourage them to continue their therapy. The reward could be seeing a difference in their recovery process which is a reward provided by themselves but is achieved through getting help from their therapist.