1 Answers

Option 2 : Jean Piaget 

Piaget's theory of moral reasoning: Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist, explored how children developed moral reasoning. He rejected the idea that children learn and internalize the rules and morals of society by being given the rules and forced to adhere to them. Through his research on how children formed their judgments about moral behavior, he recognized that children learn morality best by having to deal with others in groups. According to the Piaget's theory of moral reasoning:

  • Piaget found two main differences in how children thought about moral behavior. Very young children's thinking is based on how actions affected them or what the results of action were. For example, young children will say that when trying to reach a forbidden cookie jar, breaking 10 cups is worse than breaking one.
  • They also recognize the sanctity of rules.
  • The child’s moral reasoning is closely linked to the decline in egocentrism and growth.
  • Piaget felt that the best moral learning came from these cooperative decision-making and problem-solving events. He also believed that children developed moral reasoning quickly by using the cognitive-developmental approaches and at an early age.
  • Piaget called this "moral realism with objective responsibility." It explains why young children are concerned with outcomes rather than intentions.
  • A morality based on cooperation and mutual understanding, the child’s conception of rules changes from their being absolutely fixed to their being mutually agreed upon.
  • Older children look at the motives behind actions rather than the consequences of actions. They are also able to examine rules, determining whether they are fair or not, and apply these rules and their modifications to situations requiring negotiation, assuring that everyone affected by the rules is treated fairly.
  • Hence by all these references, we can conclude that Piaget uses cognitive-developmental approaches to explain moral reasoning.
4 views

Related Questions