Final answer:
Toddlers' moral development is characterized by a quest for autonomy, with their interactions signaling early moral awareness. Erikson's theory emphasizes the importance of this phase for identity and confidence building, while Kohlberg's theory provides a comprehensive view of moral development across different age stages.
Step-by-step explanation:
The moral development of toddlers is a foundational aspect of their early socialization, characterized by a burgeoning sense of autonomy as they interact with the environment. During this period, toddlers manifest preferences and exert control over simple choices such as food, toys, and clothing, reflecting their pursuit of independence and identity formation, crucial components in the early stages of moral development. This developmental phase is encapsulated in Erikson's theory of autonomy versus shame and doubt, whereby toddlers either develop a healthy sense of self-sufficiency or face the potential for low self-esteem and feelings of shame if their autonomy is restricted.
Lawrence Kohlberg's theory, although not focusing primarily on toddlers, provides a broader framework for moral development that unfolds in three primary stages: preconventional, conventional, and postconventional. Kohlberg's theory begins with preconventional morality, where children under the age of nine typically make judgments heavily influenced by consequences, evolving into the other stages as their cognitive abilities and social understanding mature through adolescence and into adulthood. It is important to note that Carol Gilligan highlighted possible gender biases in Kohlberg's work, proposing that moral development can also be gender-differentiated, with boys potentially adopting a justice perspective and girls a care perspective.