Question

Current research, contrary to Freud's predictions (in his psychoanalytic theory of moral development), indicates that signs of moral development begin to emerge at what age?

a. By one year
b. Toddler age
c. 3 to 4 years of age
d. By middle childhood

Answer 1

Signs of moral development surface by toddler age, around 1-3 years, as toddlers begin to assert their independence and demonstrate a budding sense of autonomy.

Step-by-step explanation:

Current research on moral development suggests that signs of moral awareness start to emerge earlier than Freud's psychoanalytic theory had predicted. According to this research, signs of moral development begin to surface at toddler age, which is typically between 1-3 years of age. During this period, toddlers start to assert their independence, which is a crucial aspect of the moral development process. They demonstrate clear preferences and a budding sense of autonomy, for example, choosing clothes or expressing a desire to undertake tasks on their own. Their morality begins to take shape as they interact with and learn from their environment.

When discussing Lawrence Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development, which progresses through pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional stages, it is important to note that moral development according to Kohlberg does not begin to consider societal views of morality — the conventional stage — until the teen years. Thus, while signs of moral development manifest in toddlerhood, a deeper understanding of societal morality evolves later.