Development

of Moral
Character
Chapter 4
Atienza, Luis Miguel
De Jesus, Kobe Eisley
Vargas, Gian Miguel
 What is Moral Development?
Moral development is the process through which people learn to
distinguish between good and wrong and to act in accordance with
ethical standards. It is an important part of human development
that has a considerable impact on our personal and social lives.
Morally good or appropriate activities or behaviors improve
relationships, welfare, and harmony. Morally poor or improper
activities, on the other hand, are those that inhibit and impede an
honest and healthy relationship with people.

The ideas that guide people's behavior in regards to justice, rights,

and other people's well-being can be clearly understood as
morality. Moral development in persons comes to emerge via a
person's experience of the relationship.
What is Moral Consciousness?
Moral consciousness is frequently acknowledged as the factor that
has a decisive impact on the decision-making process, mediates in
situations involving ethical dilemmas, and directs the action based
on knowledge, abilities, and professional experience. The
components of moral consciousness are usually examined with
normative and value factors.

Morality refers to answering the questions on what is right or

wrong. Consciousness means knowledge. Therefore, moral
consciousness is about a knowledge of right and wrong, of good
and evil.
 Who is Lawrence Kohlberg?
Lawrence Kohlberg was a psychologist who was born in
Bronxville, New York in 1927 and died in 1987. He is most
recognized for his work on moral formation and moral reasoning
theory. In the 1950s, as a graduate student at the University of
Chicago, Kohlberg began his research on moral formation. He was
influenced by the work of Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist who
offered a theory of cognitive development. Kohlberg built on Piaget's
work by proposing a theory of moral development that stated that
people go through a number of stages in their moral reasoning.
Kohlberg's theory of moral development held that moral reasoning is
a cognitive process that evolves through time. Kohlberg's research
led him to propose six stages of moral development which is…
 Stages of Moral
Development
Stage 1- (Pre Conventional) People at this level judge the
morality of an action by its direct consequences which solely
concerned with the self in an egocentric manner. A person has not
yet adopted or internalized society’s conventions regarding what
is right or wrong but instead focuses largely on external
consequences that certain actions may bring. Its two sub stages
can also be derived as Obedience and Individualism, where
individuals obey rules to avoid punishment and to make decisions
based on self-interest and exchange respectively.
 Stages of Moral
Development
Stage 2- (Conventional Morality) People at this level judge the
morality of an actions by comparing them to society’s views and
expectations. At this level, an individual obeys rules and follows
society’s norms even when there are no consequences for
obedience or disobedience. Its two sub stages can also be derived
as Good Interpersonal Relationships and Maintaining Social
Order, where individuals make decisions based on the
expectations of others and a desire to maintain positive
relationships and based on maintaining societal order and
fulfilling duties and obligations respectively.
 Stages of Moral
Development
Stage 3- (Post-Conventional Morality) People at this level has
finally reached a realization that individuals are separate entities
from society and that the individual’s own perspective may take
precedence over society’s view. Because of this level’s “nature of
self before others”, the behavior of post-conventional individuals,
can be confused with that of those at the pre-conventional level.
Its two sub stages can also be derived as Social contract and
individual rights and Universal principles, where individuals
make decisions based on the principles of fairness, equality, and
democracy; and also make decisions based on abstract ethical
principles and a commitment to justice respectively.
 Did his theory gain any
significant impact?
Lawrence Kohlberg's studies on moral development have had a
significant impact on our understanding of the complexities of
human morality and ethical decision-making. His theory provides a
framework for understanding how individuals develop their moral
reasoning skills over time, and the various factors that influence this
process, such as cognitive development and socialization
experiences. This has important implications for promoting moral
education and ethical behavior, particularly in children and young
adults.
 Other Theories related to
Moral Development
Social Learning Theory approach, a crucial
component of behaviorism, maintains that morality
develops in humans as they learn the standards of
appropriate behavior from their environment.

Psychoanalytic Theory argues that morality instead

arises from a struggle between an individual's
instinctual desires and the expectations of society.
 Other Theories related to
Moral Development

Cognitive Development Theory view morality as a

byproduct of thought or reasoning, whereas
personality theories take a more comprehensive
approach and consider all the elements that go into
human growth.
 Other Theories related to
Moral Development

Furthermore, Personality Theories take a holistic

approach in their consideration of all the elements
that affect human development.
The Influence of Culture
in Moral Development
Culture represents the normative principles of society. It
defines which appropriate principle and behavior should be
kept that would serve as the best interest of the community.
Culture is always convivial and common by which the
relationship of the people towards one another and their
experience as people are the culture’s meadow. It is in this
relationship and communal experience that culture affects
the moral development of its members.
 The Influence of Culture
in Moral Development
Laws and rules and standards of attitudes and behaviors are set and
promulgated by the community to promote that relationship that
secures them together as people. The Culture represents the
normative principles of society. It defines which appropriate
principle and behavior should be kept that would serve as the best
interest of the community.
 The Influence of Culture
in Moral Development
Moreover, a culture, as best exemplified in the experience of the
people, develops restrictions and sets boundaries and limitations as
they live and relate with one another. These restrictions and
boundaries serve as protection among themselves. These would
create an atmosphere of promoting the welfare of the community.
 The Influence of Culture
in Moral Development
As culture helps in generating the character and identity of its
people, it also includes their own moral character. Culture
conditions the mind or the way people and think and the way that
they perceive the world and their relationship with one another. A
culture, like many others, may shape a character that is either just
or unjust in the general perspective of human morality.
 Conclusion
In conclusion, moral development is an essential aspect of human
growth and maturation that influences our behaviors, beliefs, and
values. The stages of moral development proposed by Lawrence
Kohlberg highlight the gradual progression from basic obedience
to authority to abstract ethical principles that guide moral decision-
making. However, the universality of these stages has been
challenged by cultural psychologists who argue that cultural values
and practices shape moral reasoning and judgment. Culture plays a
vital role in moral development by providing individuals with
social norms, moral standards, and ethical frameworks that inform
their behavior and shape their identity. Therefore, understanding
the role of culture in moral development is crucial for promoting
cultural sensitivity and moral diversity in a multicultural world.
A picture is worth a thousand words
Feel free to ask any questions,
Thank you for your time.
Group 4
Atienza
De Jesus
Vargas