Final answer:
Moral development in middle childhood is influenced by cognitive development, social interactions, and parental guidance, as described in Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development, which explains how individuals evolve from concrete to abstract ethical thinking.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject of moral development in middle childhood is primarily influenced by three factors: cognitive development, social interactions, and parental guidance. Lawrence Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development outlines the process through which individuals understand and apply moral and ethical principles, evolving from simple concrete reasoning to a higher level of abstract ethical thinking throughout different stages of their lives.
During the preconventional stage, children base their moral decisions on direct consequences, such as reward and punishment. In the conventional stage, which often begins in the teen years, our morality is largely influenced by societal norms and the desire to maintain social order. Finally, in the postconventional stage, individuals start to see morality more abstractly and recognize that laws do not always align with personal principles.