Question

Over the years of middle childhood, moral judgment becomes more _______.

a) Subjective and inconsistent
b) More rigid and inflexible
c) Becomes more flexible and takes societal norms into account
d) Less influenced by external factors and more reliant on personal beliefs

Answer 1

Moral judgment during middle childhood becomes more flexible and considers societal norms, reflecting development as described by Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development.

Step-by-step explanation:

Over the years of middle childhood, moral judgment becomes more flexible and takes societal norms into account. This developmental shift aligns with Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development, particularly the transition from pre-conventional to conventional and eventually, postconventional stages. In the conventional stage, individuals understand and adhere to societal norms and consider the feelings of others in their moral reasoning. Eventually, in the postconventional stage, they develop an abstract understanding of morality, recognizing that legal standards and moral standards do not always coincide. Additionally, during adolescence, individuals tend to forge a personal system of ethics and values, influenced by peers and personal beliefs but tempered by the broader social context and an understanding of universal ethical principles.