Adolescent Moral Development

Morality poop be defined as the distinction between what is right and wrong or what is good and bad. Although, righteous reasoning depends on culture which makes it difficult to define. Most people dont look at where these principles ar coming from or what guides atomic number 53 through good development. As clawren grow and learn, usually from like takers and people who inspire their every need, their morality changes found on several levels. Although researching of moral development goes as far back as Socrates, there are both psychologists that studied morality in profoundness and they are Lawrence Kohlberg and Jean Piaget.Jean Piaget was a cognitive developmental psychologists spending most of his time working with children and adolescents, including his own. Although, Piagets observation of moral development wasnt in depth like Kohlberg, he allowed for a prefatorial understanding. He studyd that moral development occurred in symbolizes. Piaget strongly believed in education and thought interaction in a education setting allowed children maximum potential in cognitive development. Piaget believed in many things, precisely when it came to moral development there were only two basic principles.The first principle was that children develop moral ideas in stages and could not skip stages, although movement from one stage to the other could vary in length. ultimately he believed that children create their own perception of their world, including whether their actions enforce what is morally right or wrong. Piagets ideas of moral naturalism and morality of cooperation play a role in Kohlbergs theory. Children in Piagets stage of moral realism believe that rules are absolute and cant be changed.Punishment should be determined by how much damage is done, and the intention of the child is not taken into account. For example, a child operating in the stage of moral realism would believe that a child who accidentally breaks triplet cups should be pun ished more than a child who breaks one cup on purpose. Eventually, both the damage done and the intention of the offender in a accustomed moral dilemma are considered in this stage of moral development. Lawrence Kohlberg studied moral development in depth and that is what he is most commonly known for.Although his basic ideas and principles originated from the ideas of Piaget, Kohlberg did an in depth study of the basics of morality and how a child or adolescents move from one stage to the next. Kolberg had developed sextette stages of moral development. All of the stages were grouped into three levels of sub categories. Stages one and two are pre-conventional judgment and moral development. Stages three and four are conventional judgment. Lastly, stages are five and six are post conventional.When children are natural Kolberg believes that they have no morals and as they grow and learn, morals begin to form. The pre-conventional level is where morality begins. This is the funda ment of moral judgment. The moral values here in this stage are external. Stage one is based on obedience and punishment. If a child is punished they will try and avoid the situation acute that they will be punished so that act is known as wrong to the children. Stage two is a slightly more complex stage. Children are now egocentric and are able to qualify thoughts and ideas.Both male and females hold certain roles and have different beliefs. The conventional level Those who reason in a conventional way judge the morality of actions by comparing them to societys charms and expectations. Conventional morality is characterized by an espousal of societys conventions concerning right and wrong. At this level an individual obeys rules and follows societys norms even when there are no consequences for obedience or disobedience. Adherence to rules and conventions is somewhat rigid, however, and a rules appropriateness or fairness is seldom questioned .Stage three is where children are labeled. In this stage children are labeled either good or bad. Children try and please others for acceptance and approval. For example, during the Christmas holiday season children try their hardest to be good so Santa will total and bring them Christmas presents. Where as if they are bad they will receive coal. Stage four is where authority comes in and plays a highly meaning(a) role. Children learn that authority figures are the ones who control and maintain order. Also they try and live up to others expectations alternatively of their own.The post conventional level is where moral values allow adolescents and adults to distinguish the difference between societies view of right and wrong and the views of their individual views. Most people live by these views of right and wrong. In stage five the world is known as being able to hold their own opinions and views. Stage six is using your own opinions and applying them. For instance choosing to use logic and consistency or the fe eling of your own morality to make understandable and logical decisions. While a child grows the formation of morality is highly important.Alcoholics, medicate addicts and murderers might suffer from disturbed moral thoughts which might cause an error in their beliefs of right and wrong. For instance, a murderer who grew up in an abusive home atmosphere might think it is okay to be abusive and hurt other people. So therefore there morality was culture based and was support based on the home life sustained. The same for alcoholics and drug addicts. Although, not all people who come from these types of dysfunctional families suffer and act upon there cultural up bringing some may.