Moral Reasoning: The Kohlberg Model

Kohlberg says that moral and ethical behavior develop through a series of six stages. Each of these stages is more advanced in its thinking and ability to confront moral dilemmas. 

Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development

Highest Justification for Moral Behaviors

Lowest Justifications for Moral Behaviors

Blind Egoism VS. Instrumental Egoism

Zeke is definitely somewhere in level 1: Pre-Conventional in the Kohlberg Model. But where? It's a little bit tricky to determine how a two year old justifies decisions of morality. 

Stage 1:  Punishment Avoidance

   How can I avoid punishment?

Stage 2:  Self-Interest

   How can I get what I want?

Observations:

Zeke is generally well-mannered. He says sorry often times if he accidentally hurts someone. He says 'please' and 'thank you' in the appropriate contexts. However, he has his own agenda and will go to extreme measures to get his way. It's a battle.

(Zeke brought a chair into the kitchen to climb the counters)

If Zeke is told "no", he throws a fit until he gets what he wants. This can last 10-20 minutes. (self-interest)

If Zeke is told he will be punished for bad behaviors, he ignores the warning and continues to do what he wants. (self-interest)

If Zeke is offered an award, he will comply without fighting. He gets something out of it and becomes okay with that activity. (self-interest). 

(He was told to not climb the counters and then pouted)

Zeke is more than likely in the 2nd stage of Preconventional Moral Development. He acts out of interest to himself, rather than avoidance. If he wants something, he knows it's better to not get caught so he can continue to pursue what he wants, rather than to avoid punishment at the cost of not getting what he wants.  An action is okay if it is beneficial. 

There are times, however, where Zeke will try to avoid punishment (stage 1) by being sneaky and clever. This could be used to justify putting him in stage 1, however, the outcome is of self-interest. 

I can get what I want IF I avoid getting caught (punishment). 

Imagination: Egan's Imaginative Levels of Understanding

Kieran Egan: Imaginative Understanding

Egan suggests that the imagination develops in layers or levels, not necessarily stages. Each level that develops "masks" the other levels, but the other levels are still there underneath. 

The typical level of imaginative development for a two year old might be at the Somatic Understanding, entering the early part of the Mythic Understanding level (3-6 years).

I know Zeke real well though, and I can tell you, this child exhibits characteristics of the Romantic Understanding (he loves heroic stories, science fiction and extremes of reality). He loves to play "heroes" and "bad guys", loves firefighters, and will sit and watch nature videos on spiders, insects, and extremes of nature.

Overall, though, I would hypothesize that he is in the "Mythic" level: Legends, fairy tales, mystery, games, and make-believe play are all relevant in his life. Zeke is starting to make jokes (that sometimes only he understands) and then he says, "Oh that's so funny!"

He becomes a Power Ranger when he wears his costume.

He loves to sing and play instruments. He likes rhymes and patterns in songs.

Zeke loves to pretend he's a monster.

And talking about monsters.

The best thing for Zeke is to develop his learning by appealing to the stage of imagination he is in. If an activity can engage him through his imagination, he will learn so much more. His level of imagination will progress as he gains an understanding of written language and solidifies his achievements in oral language. He needs support and awareness of his changing imagination in order to be presented with the best opportunities for growth of the mind.

Erik Erikson: Psychosocial Development

Self-view and Social Engagement both change throughout life.

Autonomy Versus Shame/Doubt (18 months-3 years old)

Can I do it by myself?

Zeke is working on it.

He's figuring out self-dressing:

It doesn't always go perfectly, but the important thing is, Zeke is trying it out for himself and is getting better all the time.

Self-feeding:

And the BIG event:  toilet training:

Piaget's Cognitive Development: Where does Zeke fall?

Jean Piaget created the Stages of Cognitive Development and categorized them as such:

Where:

Zeke should be exhibiting characteristics of the Preoperational Stage from Piaget's Theory.

He should think uni-directionally, have an ego-centric perspective, an animistic worldview, engage in collective monologue, have difficulties with conservation and have difficulties with classification.

The Tests:


Test 1: Conservation

Zeke watched me put an equal number of chocolates in each glass. But, he chose the taller one that appeared bigger.



Test 2: Egocentric Thinking

This is a classic example of how Zeke relates experiences. He channels them through his own experiences in order to make connections. I once fell down in the yard. He pretended to fall right next to me, saying "OWWWW!" like he'd just fallen himself.




Test 3: Animistic Thinking

The moon is alive, and that's for sure. There's no reason in particular, he just knows that it is alive.

The Results:

Zeke shows the classic signs of being in a preoperational cognitive state. As he grows and develops a better understanding of the world around him, his mind will become more operational. Until then, he will continue to have fun and be silly. 

The Bioecological Model and Zeke's World

Urie Bronfenbrenner developed a Bioecological Model of Human Development that reflects how people develop in context to the world and people around them. 

(Woolfolk, 2013)

Zeke lives with his Dad, Mom and Grandma. He has a cat, a dog, and two goats. He is an only child and spends most of his time with the people he lives with.

Zeke lives in the Westmont neighborhood.

He lives in South Everett, near Boeing. 

He spends his time away from home doing lots of fun activities, such as going to the Everett Imagine Children's Museum, Mukilteo Lighthouse Beach, the local bowling alley, and local parks. He is exposed to his local community frequently. Zeke is an active little guy. 

Zeke also travels quite a bit. He's been to Colorado, California, Oregon, Nevada, Ohio, and Illinois. 

What Zeke Likes to Do

Zeke likes bowling. A lot.

He loves to play outside.

He loves trains, planes and all "things that go".



Zeke loves the beach.

He loves to build and create, to draw, to play make-believe.

Meet Zeke

Meet Zeke. He was born June 27, 2011 in Seattle, Washington.

He moved from Seattle to Everett when he was almost a year old.

He lives with his Mom, Dad and (maternal) Grandma.

His dad, Nathan, works in in-home healthcare with seniors. His mom, Jenny, delivers pizza and goes to school. His grandma is a waitress.

Zeke is almost two and a half now. His body has grown so quickly, but his cognitive, psychosocial, imaginative, and moral development have advanced just as quickly. He has gone from a small, fragile baby with no forms of communication other than crying to a talkative two year old with his own agenda.