Developmental Psychology

Mental development from childhood to adolescence

Aim
To explore the key aspects of cognitive and moral development during childhood and adolescence, with a focus on Piaget's and Kohlberg's theories.
Learning outcomes

comparison of child and adult thinking
cognitive development trajectories
piaget's stages
piaget's key concepts
kohlberg's stages
heinz's dilemma
moral development factors

Key terms
schema
adaptation process
equilibrium
accomodation
assimilation
stages of cognitive development
stages of moral development

Questions for thought:

Have you ever experienced injustice?
Have you ever witnessed such?
How old were you and how could you tell it is wrong?



Exercise questions after reading

Can you describe basic terms of Piaget´s theory (schema, adaptation process, equilibrium, accomodation, assimilation)?

Can you describe all stages of cognitive development?

According to Kohlberg, how do individuals progress through the stages of moral development? Is there a fixed order or can stages be skipped?

How do individuals at Stage 5 and Stage 6 differ in their views on civil disobedience? What role does justice play in their decisions?

What factors contribute to moral development according to Kohlberg? Are they primarily internal or external?

How does role-taking play a role in moral development? What are the benefits of considering others' viewpoints?

Describe the key characteristics of each of Kohlberg's stages, focusing on the underlying moral reasoning in each.
Some argue that Kohlberg's theory is culturally biased. What evidence supports or contradicts this claim?

Have there been criticisms of Kohlberg's theory regarding gender bias? How does it address the moral reasoning of both males and females?

How can Kohlberg's theory be applied to real-world situations, such as education?