Final answer:
Autonomous morality involves the consideration of more than just social rules; it includes intentions and broader ethical values, often aligned with postconventional morality where legality and morality may differ. During the conventional level of moral development, children start to be influenced by societal perspectives on morality. Differences in moral understanding might exist between genders as well, according to Carol Gilligan's research.
Step-by-step explanation:
Children who show autonomous morality not only consider social rules but also take into account intentions, relationships, and the broader context of actions. This advanced form of moral understanding is part of Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development, specifically the postconventional level. At this stage, individuals think abstractly about moral principles, as when Americans refer to rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and it is recognized that legality and morality do not always align. The Egyptian protests in 2011 exemplify this postconventional morality, where protesters recognized their government's actions as legal but not morally correct.
In contrast, the conventional level of moral development, which typically emerges during the teen years, is when children start considering society's view of morality, becoming sensitive to others' feelings and societal rules when determining right and wrong. Carol Gilligan's research on moral development suggested that boys and girls might exhibit differences in moral understanding, with boys tending towards a justice perspective and girls more towards a care and responsibility perspective.
Moral development is a complex process influenced by numerous factors including cognitive development, emotional growth, peer influence, culture, and inherent moral faculties. It's important to note that moral reasoning does not always translate into moral behavior, since what individuals say they would do in a hypothetical situation might differ from their actions in reality.