Jerome,6,and Hani,10,get up early on Saturday morning and decide to make "breakfast in bed" for their mother.While reaching for the bed tray in the back of the hall cabinet,they accidentally break one of their mother's favorite porcelain dolls.Jerome knows that he's going to get into "big trouble." Hani tells him not to worry because Mom would understand that it was an accident.In what stage would Jean Piaget categorize the moral reasoning of Jerome and Hani?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Jerome and Hani are both in the heteronomous morality stage, which is typical for children ages 4-7. In this stage, they view rules as unchangeable and enforced by authority figures. Jerome's concern about getting into trouble suggests he still sees rules as externally imposed, rather than internalizing them as in the autonomous morality stage (ages 10+). Hani's suggestion that their mother would understand is a form of seeking authority approval, also typical of the heteronomous morality stage.

Jerome,6,and Hani,10,get Up Early on Saturday Morning and Decide to Make