Question

What questions might you ask a child to determine what stage of moral development he or she is in?

Short answer

Questions based on scenarios where the child needs to make a choice can be asked to determine their stage of moral development. Depending on their response, which could focus on avoiding punishment, upholding social norms or protecting universal principles, you can identify whether they are in the pre-conventional, conventional, or post-conventional stage.

Step-by-step solution

Identifying the Pre-Conventional Stage

For children in the Pre-Conventional stage, morality is about avoiding punishment and satisfying needs. You might ask: 'Imagine a friend of yours has taken a toy you really like and it's making you sad. What would you do?' Children at this stage will likely focus on avoiding trouble or getting the toy back for their own satisfaction.

Identifying the Conventional Stage

In the Conventional stage, children see morality as conforming to social norms and laws. They can be identified by asking something like: 'Your best friend did something bad at school and wants you to lie for them. What would you do?' Children at this stage may espouse the importance of telling the truth and not betraying rule norms.

Identifying the Post-Conventional Stage

For the Post-Conventional stage, where morality is about upholding universal rights and principles, children could be asked: 'If you saw someone being treated unfairly, but stopping it would break a rule, what would you do?' Responses may vary, but kids at this stage typically express a desire to uphold justice, even at the expense of rules or norms.

Key concepts

Understanding the Pre-Conventional Stage of Moral Development

As children begin their journey into moral development, the Pre-Conventional stage is their first waypoint. It's a phase where their understanding of morality is largely influenced by external factors such as consequences and rewards. To gauge whether a child is at this stage, one might ask questions relating to immediate personal outcomes; for instance:

'If you could get a toy you wanted by sneaking it away without anyone noticing, would you do it? Why or why not?'

A child in the Pre-Conventional stage may justify their decision based on the potential for personal gain or the direct avoidance of punishment, showing a yet unrefined moral compass that hinges on self-interest rather than societal or ethical norms.

Navigating Through the Conventional Stage of Moral Development

During the Conventional stage, children start to understand and internalize the expectations of society and their social group. They begin to see beyond their own desires and consider the importance of rules and laws. To spot if a child resonates with this stage, one may use scenarios that involve community relationships and laws, such as:

'If you found money on the ground at school, would you keep it or turn it in? Why?'

A typical response from someone in the Conventional stage is to focus on the importance of honesty and following school rules. They might express concern about the feelings of the person who lost the money, indicating their moral reasoning now includes loyalty, conformity, and maintaining social order.

Exploring the Post-Conventional Stage of Moral Development

The Post-Conventional stage marks an individual's ability to think abstractly about moral principles, going beyond the conventions of their immediate environment. One can assess if a child is approaching this stage by posing dilemmas that challenge societal norms against universal ethical principles. Asking questions like:

'If there was a law that you believed was unfair, would you go against it to uphold what you believe is right?'

Children expressing thoughts that align with the Post-Conventional stage typically argue for actions that reflect justice and human rights, even when it means contravening established rules or laws. They advocate for ethical principles that transcend the given social order, showing a highly developed moral reasoning capability.