Piaget's Theory of Moral Development in AP Psychology

Definition

Piaget's Theory of Moral Development is a cognitive theory that explains how children develop their understanding of right and wrong. It consists of two main stages - the heteronomous stage (characterized by strict adherence to rules) and the autonomous stage (where individuals understand moral rules can be changed through mutual agreement).

Related terms

Egocentrism:

Children in the preoperational stage are egocentric, meaning they have difficulty seeing things from other people's perspectives.

Moral Reasoning:

The process by which individuals make decisions about what is right or wrong based on their understanding of moral principles.

Socialization: The process through which individuals acquire knowledge, values, and behaviors that enable them to function effectively as members of society.