A study on moral development during childhood

摘要

On a basis of an ascertaining analysis, the present paper aims at emphasizing the characteristics of understanding moral notions by children as well as the level of moral development. The concrete-situational character of the understanding of moral notions and even the impossibility to define these notions until the stage age of 8 years and to those with an IQ under average are the attributes of moral development during later childhood. The fear of punishment is the main reason which determines the child to adopt a certain moral behaviour. Intellectual development does not represent a determining factor of a moral action even if it mediates the understanding of moral notions.