Conventional Morality in AP Psychology

Definition

This is the second level in Kohlberg's stages of moral development where individuals uphold laws and rules to gain social approval or maintain social order.

Theoretical Perspectives

Conventional Morality Theoretical Perspectives

Study And Research Findings

Lawrence Kohlberg's seminal research on moral development in the 1960s provided the framework for understanding conventional morality. His studies involved presenting dilemmas and assessing moral reasoning across different age groups, leading to his stage theory.

Related terms

Good Boy-Nice Girl Orientation: This stage of moral development is characterized by an effort to secure approval and maintain friendly relations with others.

Law-and-Order Orientation: At this stage, there is an emphasis on obeying laws and respecting authority in order to maintain societal order.

Social Norms:

These are unwritten rules about how to behave. They provide us with an expected idea of how to behave in a particular social group or culture.