Shaping of Moral Behavior

One theory holds that there is a linear connection between the two variables such that as moral thinking matures, moral behavior increases. A second theory holds that there is a curvilinear relationship between moral behavior and moral thought. Both of these theories are delineated and discussed in the review of the literature presented in the next section of the proposal.

Although several theories have been formulated for cognitive development in the area of moral reasoning, one of the most accepted views of the development of moral reasoning has been offered by Lawerence Kohlberg (1958, 1981, 1984). Kohlberg postulates that from the ages of 4 to 13, children develop moral reasoning in four distinct stages. These stages can be delineated as follows:

(1) Stage 1: Orientation to Punishment and Obedience. At this stage children obey the rules of others to avoid punishment with the predominate question a child asks him- or herself

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ior. Since many of the studies reviewed by Blasi (1980) showed a linear association between children at various Stage 3 levels and classroom conduct, there is reason to believe that even if problematic behavior increases at Stage 2, it will rise at Stage 3. There are, therefore, two theoretical descriptions of the relationship between children's conduct and their level of moral reasoning. The first theory states that with maturity of moral reasoning comes improved conduct. This theory would lead to the hypothesis of a linear function if a trend analysis were performed. In other words, it would be expected that conduct would improve at each of the four stages that characterize moral thought from 4 through 13 years. The second theory of the relationship between moral reasoning and conduct in children would hypothesis a curvilinear relationship across the four stages of development associated with maturity of moral thinking. This would lead to the expectation of low levels of problematic behavior at Stage 1, 2 and 3 with higher levels of problematic behavior at Stage 2. Methodology Subjects Subjects in the study will consist of fourth and eighth grade students, one half of which will be attending a public elementary school and
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Approximate Word count = 3150
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page)

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