Download Chapter Summary/Lecture Organizer MORAL DEVELOPMENT

Chapter Summary/Lecture Organizer
I.
MORAL DEVELOPMENT - The section on moral development begins with a discussion of
Kohlberg's three levels of reasoning.
A. Assessing Kohlberg’s Theory – Criticisms have focused on three major areas: 1) reasoning
versus behavior, 2) cultural differences, and 3) possible gender bias.
B. Kohlberg’s Research – Kohlberg believes that moral development was universal, invariant,
and developmental. Kohlberg’s stages include: the pre-conventional level (morality is
based on self-centered personal benefit or the avoidance of punishment); the conventional
level (morality reflects the need for approval and the desire to maintain social order);
and, the post-conventional level (moral reasoning is guided by higher principles of conduct).
Critical Thinking/Active Learning: Morality and Academic Cheating –Recent
research from The Center for Academic Integrity on cheating is highlighted and students
are given an opportunity to consider moral dilemmas and apply Kohlberg’s stages.
II.
PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT
A. Thomas and Chess's Temperament Theory - Thomas and Chess emphasize the genetic
component of certain traits (such as sociability) and the fact that babies often exhibit
differences in temperament shortly after birth. They found that 65% of babies observed fell
into three categories: easy, difficult, or slow-to-warm-up children.
B. Erikson's Psychosocial Theory - Erikson expanded on Freud's ideas and theorized eight
psychosocial stages that cover the entire life span. Childhood includes: trust versus mistrust,
autonomy versus shame and doubt, initiative versus guilt, and industry versus inferiority.
Erikson believes the major psychosocial crisis of adolescence is the search for identity versus
role confusion. During young adulthood, the individual's task is to establish intimacy over
isolation, and during middle adulthood, the person must deal with generativity versus
stagnation. At the end of life, the older adult must establish ego integrity, which depends on
the acceptance of the life that has been lived, or face overwhelming despair at the realization
of lost opportunities.
Critics of Erikson point out lack of cross-cultural support particularly in collectivist cultures,
the stage of adolescent storm and stress, the midlife crisis, and the empty nest. Never-theless, Erikson’s influence on developmental psychology has been great.
C. Evaluating Erikson’s Theory – Critics of Erikson note that the eight stages are difficult
to test and they may not be supported cross-culturally.
Gender and Cultural Diversity: Cultural Influences on Development – Differences in
cultural views on the concept of self are explored contrasting individualistic and
collectivistic cultures.
III.
MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF ADULTHOOD– This section looks at how committed
relationships, divorce may influence personality development.
A. Committed Relationships – The expectations of men and women toward marriage are
explored. The effects of divorce on children are noted.
Psychology at Work: Are Your Marital Expectations Unrealistic?- Factors for a
successful marriage are discussed including shared personal feelings and life goals,
shared power and mutual support, conflict management skills, similarity in values,
supportive social environment, and positive attitude.
B. Families - Families play an important role in development. Family violence, teenage
pregnancies, and teen parenthood can have significant effects on development.
Research Highlight: Children Who Survive Despite the Odds – Studies citing the
importance of resilience and the traits and environmental circumstances surrounding
them is explored.
Psychology at Work: Positive Careers and Rewarding Retirements – The importance of
choosing a rewarding career and the value of involvement and activity in retirement are
explored. Theories of aging are explored. The activity theory suggests people should remain
active and involved throughout the entire life span, while the disengagement theory proposes
that the elderly naturally withdraw because they welcome the relief from roles they can no
longer fulfill.
Gender and Cultural Diversity: Cultural Differences in Ageism - Significant gender
and ethnic differences in the status and treatment of the elderly are explored.
IV. GRIEF AND DEATH
A. Grief - Grief is a natural and painful reaction to a loss. For most people, grief consists of four
major stages--numbness, yearning, disorganization and despair, and resolution. It is important
to remind students that there is no "right" way to grieve.
B. Attitudes Toward Death and Dying - There is great variation across cultures and among age
groups in their attitudes toward the death process. While adults generally understand the
permanence, universality, and nonfunctionality of death, children often don't master these
concepts until around the age of seven.
C. The Death Experience – Western societies avoid thoughts and discussions of death and
associate aging with death which contributes to ageism. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross's theory of the
five-stage process of dying (denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance) offers
important insight and education concerning death.
Psychology at Work: Dealing With Your Own Death Anxiety Students are given the opportunity to compare their score on the “Death Anxiety
Questionnaire” to the national average.