DOI: 10.36347/sjahss.2018.v06i03.014

Pages: 568-582

The present study explored the moral reasoning on how children think about and resolve moral dilemmas of young children between the ages of 4 to 10 years. The study focused on analysing how young children in the Indian socio-cultural context negotiate moral dilemmas and if there are any age related differences in the same. For this purpose, moral dilemma vignettes were constructed to examine the prohibition oriented and prosocial dilemmas. Two participants of 2 different age groups (4 to 6 years, and 7 to 9 years) were selected using convenient purposive sampling and were asked to reflect on and suggest what the protagonist should do, what he/she would do, reasons for engaging in this behaviour and what if the other action is engaged in. The analysis was carried out using the Eisenberg’s ‘moral consideration categories’ (Eisenberg, 1979). The results indicated the younger participant reasoned the dilemmas based on stereotyped reasoning, and the older participant was inclined towards concern towards other person’s (physical) needs as well as pragmatism.There is obsessive view towards the authority among both age groups. The study provided insights into moral formation of children and the stage-developmental patterning of moral reasoning. Younger children view can be self centred in certain situations. The moral reasoning is developed with more exposure to new people as elder children have more peers than younger ones. The results from the study showed that there are similarities among both participants because of their gender on care and sympathy values towards other individual. There is care for younger siblings. The reasoning is more 6 and more focused on rules, norms and values among elder children as the participant believes that it’s moral duty to help others and to help others.