The Conception of Preconventional Morality: Some Further Doubts.

Autor/inn/en	Keller, Monika; und weitere
Titel	The Conception of Preconventional Morality: Some Further Doubts.
Quelle	(1987), (28 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Children; Cognitive Development; Foreign Countries; Moral Development; Punishment; Theories; Iceland + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Child; Kind; Kinder; Kognitive Entwicklung; Ausland; Moralische Entwicklung; Bestrafung; Theory; Theorie; Island
Abstract	A study was made to follow up on questions about the conception of preconventional moral reasoning in Kohlberg's cognitive development theory. Based on earlier findings, the following hypotheses were formulated: (1) children will express genuine fairness and interpersonal concerns at the level of preconventional moral reasoning; (2) while children's moral reasoning at stage 1 may be characterized by unilateral respect for rules or unquestioned rule obedience, a punishment orientation will not be a predominant concern; and (3) moral reasoning at stage 2 cannot be explained exclusively by the model of instrumental exchange; children's arguments will show genuine concern for the welfare of others and an acceptance of moral rules which have the purpose of protecting the psychological well-being of others. Participants were 65 urban Icelandic children aged 7, 9, and 12 years, who were presented with a modification of Kohlberg's classical Judy dilemma. Findings supported the contention that genuine interpersonal and fairness concerns are present at the preconventional level; refuted the assumption of a punishment orientation in the young child; and supported the idea of an unquestioned respect for rules. It is concluded that the findings present a serious challenge to the basic theoretical assumptions underlying Kohlberg's theory of moral development. (RH)
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC