Developmental psychologyChapter 15Moral reasoning Every discussion of the development of prosocial and antisocial behavior must cover the work of Piagent and Kohlberg.PiagetThe first to study in a systematic way the moral judgments of children.Piaget presented them with hypothetical moral dilemmas and then asked the children to make judgments.From responses to dilemmas and to queries concerning the rules of games, Piaget concluded that younger children’s moral judgment was governed by unilateral respect for adult and adults’ rules, with little understanding of reciprocity or the intentions of others.Young children children judge that the greater damage constitutes a larger moral violation, because the intentions will not be salient.With age children develop a morality of cooperation and social exchange.Children come to understand that intentions matter, that roles can be reversed, and that moral conflicts must be resolved through discussion and compromise with peers.Age 10.KohlbergMoral dilemmas to elicit moral reasoning.Five stages of judgment1. Heteronomous moralityChildren believe that ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ are determined by powerful adult figures.To act morally is to follow the rules laid down by authorities.Little consideration is given to the intentions or desires of individuals other than the self when making moral judgments.2. Instrumental moralityIndividuals become aware that other people have intentions and desires, and that there are two sides to every argument.This awareness influences moral judgment only when others’ desires affect the pursuit of one’s instrumental goals.3. Interpersonal normative moralityIndividuals in this stage seek to be...