Page 133 - Meeting with Children Book

P a ge | 131

example of this is; "the last time I did this I was spanked or
I had to go to my room" so I will not do that again. The more
extreme the punishment, the more the act is viewed as
"bad". It is a time of egocentricity; a lack of understanding
that one is not the center of all things.

Stage 2: During stage 2 of Preconventional morality
(individualism and exchange), a child is self-interest driven;
"what's in it for me"? The child's behaviors are therefore
defined from a best interest point of view. There is a limited
interest in the needs of others, but only in as much as it
furthers the child/person's own interests. In other words,
this stage is not about loyalty to others, rather it is about
"you do something for me and I will do something for you".
All actions at this stage have the purpose of serving the
individual's needs or interests. For example, a child may be
asked to do a chore for a parent and the child asks "what is
in it for me"? Parents often provide incentives to young
children such as rewards and allowance in exchange for the
action from the child. The child is motivated by self-interest
at this stage.

Level 2: Conventional Morality
By age 7 some children move towards the next level of
moral development (Conventional Morality, Stage 3).
Throughout Conventional Morality, a child's sense of
morality is tied to personal and societal relationships.
Children continue to accept the rules of authority figures,
but this is now due to their belief that this is necessary to
ensure positive relationships and societal order. Adherence
to rules and conventions is somewhat rigid during these
stages, and a rule's appropriateness or fairness is seldom
questioned.
Stage 3: Good Boy, Nice Girl Orientation
In stage 3, children want the approval of others and act in
ways to avoid disapproval. Emphasis is placed on good