Moral development is the process through which children develop proper attitudes and behaviors towards other people in society, based on social and cultural norms, rules, and laws. Stages of moral development in children: Moral development in children happens gradually as they grow from infancy to teens and older.
But “our best evidence suggests that moral instincts arise on their own in kids.” Studies have shown that there is no moral difference between children who are raised as religious and those raised secular or non-believing.
The earliest stage of moral development, obedience, and punishment are especially common in young children, but adults are also capable of expressing this type of reasoning. At this stage, Kohlberg says, children see rules as fixed and absolute.
Level 1. Preconventional Morality Preconventional morality is the earliest period of moral development. It lasts until around the age of 9. At this age, children's decisions are primarily shaped by the expectations of adults and the consequences for breaking the rules. There are two stages within this level:
This particular study included 258 participants of college age at a Midwestern university in the United States, with 63 percent females and 37 percent males at an average age of 20 years, 11 months, with a majority of participants being Caucasian and primarily Christian (McDaniel et.al, 2010).