Question

Brad is in an electronics store with his parents. he looks at the cds and thinks for a moment that he could grab one and put it beneath his coat. as he considers this possibility, he decides not to do it because he might get caught and his parents would punish him. what stage of moral development does brad's decision represent?

Answer 1

HETERONORMOUS MORALITY.

Brad is on the stage of heteronormous morality (5-9 years old).  The stage of heteronomous morality is also known as moral realism– morality imposed from the outside. Children regard morality as obeying other people's rules and laws, which cannot be changed.

They accept that all rules are made by some authority figure (e.g. parents, teacher, God), and that breaking the rules will lead to immediate and severe punishment (immanent justice).

During this stage children consider rules as being absolute and unchanging, i.e. 'divine like'. They think that rules cannot be changed and have always been the same as they are now.