Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Children's moral reasoning refers to the cognitive processes involved in making judgments about what is right and wrong, good and bad, and ethical or unethical during childhood.
Cognitive development refers to the growth and changes in cognitive abilities such as thinking, problem-solving, memory, attention, language acquisition, etc., over time.
Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development: Kohlberg's stages of moral development are six sequential stages that describe how individuals develop morally from childhood to adulthood.
Conscience: Conscience refers to an inner voice or sense within individuals that guides them toward morally appropriate behavior while discouraging immoral actions.