Bandura's Theory Of Moral Development

In an attempt to understand humans and how they behave psychologists have developed theories that seek to explain this. Social learning theory fathered by Albert Bandura 1971 proposes that humans learn from each other and from their environment. Bandura believes that children learn from adults –models. Similarly Lawrence Kohlberg in his theory on Moral development seeks to prove this very notion. Pre-convention Morality, Conventional Morality and Post- conventional Morality form the bases of Moral Development Theory. Kohlberg is unwavering in his stance that individuals cannot skip any stage and progress to the next as they must matriculate from start to finish. This paper will thoroughly explain each theory and highlight the limitations of

Positive reinforcement is the adding of an incentive or reward to stimulate a desired behavior. This will encourage or strengthen the behavior making it likely to happen again. On the other hand negative reinforcement is the opposite, rather than adding a stimulus, the stimulus is removed both positive and negative reinforcement are crucial to the motivational aspect of social learning.

Every theory has its strengths and its weaknesses, social learning is no exception. In fact it is criticized for its inability to account for the mental or cognitive aspect that guides our behaviour. Much emphasis is placed on environmental factors and no so much placed on our mental capability to discern wrong from right. He created a world that is environmentally based that allows us to be viewed as mere robots – having no minds of our own.

Another limitation is that it failed to properly address the fact that what one child or individual may see as punishment, another person may view as a reward. Each child is unique and thus his or her thought process may differ from another. Hence the children who attacked the Bobo doll could see it as a normal acceptable way of behaving; especially that the object was not harmed or was incapable of feeling pain. In their minds it could just be seen as just a simply doll. In the same breath those who did not respond aggressively could be as a result that they thought

In Kohlberg’s theory of Moral Judgment unlike that of Piaget, Freud and Erickson there is no age stipulation. Individuals however must matriculate all the stages of Moral Judgment in an ascending order or sequence; he went further to state that not everyone will acquire Post Conventional stage.

Pre- conventional Morality: at this level authority is outside of the individual and reasoning is based on the physical consequences of actions. The first stage is called obedience and punishment orientation. The child is good in order to avoid being punished. He or she believes that if a person is punished they must have done wrong. The second stage is known as individualism and exchange; here the child recognizes that there is not just one right view that is handed down by authorities. Different individuals have different viewpoint, hence they conform to avoid disapproval or to obtain rewards and