Question

What changes occur in moral development during middle childhood?

Answer 1

Answer:

During middle childhood, the children's morality changes from being directed by adults and the rules that they impose to be directed by them since they start to think of what they should and should not do. They do not follow the rules because a figure of power told them to. They do it since they think about the consequences and the benefits that it can bring not only to them but to society. We can see that following the rules is not related to avoid punishment but to help a group since they understand that rules are socially agreed upon to benefit all. As they see that these are agreed upon by a group and not imposed, they negotiate and reflect on their actions.

Explanation:

According to Piaget, children in middle childhood, from 8 to 11 years old, incorporate the rules and think for themselves concerning what they have to do and what they do not. As they become less egocentric, they understand that society establishes the rules and they can modify them. Doing the right thing is not related to avoiding punishment like in previous stages. It is related to understand what is best for a group. We can see that morality has improved from being something imposed in an egocentric child to something that they interiorize and is related to the benefit of all.