There are three levels in Kohlberg’s theory of moral development. Over time, an individual proceeds from one level to the next. The individual may not drop from a higher level to a lower level. Preconventional moral reasoning is the first level of Kohlberg’s theory. Kohlberg believed that moral thinking changed in predicted ways as cognitive abilities developed. The moral development was not whether the individual was right or wrong but on how they explained their actions or how they made their moral judgments. “At this level, moral reasoning is based on perceptions of the likelihood of external rewards and punishments. What is right is what avoids punishment or results in rewards,” (Arnett, 2016).
For example, a child sees a plate of chocolate chip cookies on the kitchen counter. He is tempted to eat a few before dinner. The child wonders if he eats the cookies, his parents will be angry at him, especially because he has not eaten his dinner. However, for the child’s self-interest, he decides to not eat the cookies because he will get punished if he does.
In this stage, the child focuses on their desire to obey the rules and avoid punishment. The child sees that an action is morally wrong because they will be punished. If the child sees that the punishment is worse, they perceive the act to be more “bad.” Children are more interested in getting rewarded rather than getting punished. Their behaviors depend on receiving rewards of satisfying personal needs.
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There are changes in family relations from middle childhood to adolescence. The amount of time spent with family members decline in adolescence. However, when adolescents do spend time with their parents, tension and conflict is more frequent. Arguments usually occur when adolescents spend time with their parents because of disagreements and attitudes. “Studies in Western countries also indicate that conflict with parents increases sharply in early adolescence, compared with middle childhood, and remains high for several years before declining in late adolescence,” (Arnett, 2016). Conflict with parents rise because of reaching sexual maturity and gaining greater independence from the family.
Boys and girls undergo puberty during adolescence and the timing and speed varies for everyone. Adolescents who mature early tend to have more conflict with parents than adolescents who mature “on-time” because sexual issues arise earlier. They are experiencing a stage that involves sexual maturation, physical growth, psychological development, and social development. “Conflict in adolescence is especially frequent and intense between mothers and daughters,” (Arnett, 2016). Females are considered to be more emotional than males.
Adolescence is a time of gaining greater independence from the family. The adolescent begins to establish his or her independence and own identity. The parent disagrees with the adolescent’s pace of growth because adolescents think they are capable of being independent and self-sufficient. Parents may have concerns about their safety with sexuality, automobile use, and substance use. The parents want to protect their child from risks. Conflict arises because adolescents expect to be able to make their own decisions and resent their parents’ restrictions.
When I was in high school, I would get into several arguments with my mom because I did not obey her rules. I would leave the house and spend time with my friends past my curfew. I disagreed with her curfew time because I thought it was too early. I received my license at the age of sixteen, which gave me more freedom. However, I took advantage of it and was barely home during the weekends. My mom was concerned about my safety, which is why she created restrictions, but I resented them. During late adolescence, the tension and conflict declined.
I pushed my mom for more independence to grow, and she restrained that push in the interests of safety and responsibility. There were several disagreements because I wanted to live on my terms and not my parent’s. During late adolescence, we did not argue as much because we compromised since I am much older. I was able to stay out late as long as I informed my mom about my whereabouts. Having a part-time job allowed me to stay out late because the store closed late at night. Now, arguments with my mom does not happen frequently.
Adolescents and their parents agree on many of their values and beliefs and have great amount of love and respect for each other. However, families experience several arguments with each other. Conflict rises in early adolescence, intensifies during mid-adolescence, then declines substantially in late adolescence.
