DIMENSIONS OF MATURITY

Ines A. de Guzman, PhD

of interestDeepening 1.

Extension of the self

Child and the family

Peer groups

School activities,

Youth organizations

Opposite sex

Vocational, moral, and civic responsibilities.

During early adolescence, the individual was in the midst of an identity crisis, a struggle that reached its peak during adolescence.

Early adulthood: mature psychosocial development is measured by the successful resolution of the stage as intimacy versus isolation

The young adult is ready for intimacy, which means not only committing the self to personal relationships but also nurturing the motivation to maintain them.

The Individual may develop strong bonds of intimacy in friendships that offer, among other features, mutuality, empathy, and reciprocity.

2. Relating warmly with others – capacity to be

intimate with and towards others

• Capacity to continue functioning even during time of stress – a very formidable goal

• spontaneity; one is• aware of one’s own

emotions, is not afraid of them, and has control over their expression.

• Acceptance as being part of the normal self

• Does not allow emotions to rule his/her life but• does not reject

• emotions as being• alien in nature either

• Full acceptance of self including imperfections

• Seek to fulfil• own potentials Self

acceptanceEmotional acceptance

Frustration toleranceConfidence in

self-expression

3. Emotional Security

4. Realistic PerceptionAbility to keep in touch with

reality, without

distorting the environment

for self-serving purposes

Ability to perceive the

surround-ings

accurately

Avoid mis-use of defense

mechanisms

5. Possession of skills and

competence

strives to develop skils he/she possesses

driven by a need to express his/her

competence through some type

of activity. identifies with her work and displays pride in the skills

needed to produce the finished

product

Possesses self insight

Knows what he/she can do, cannot do, ought to do

Modifies behavior to fulfil his/her roles as worker, marriage partner, and parents as source of stability and ego identity that are developed

in the performance of these roles.

6. Knowledge of the Self (Objectification)

copes with failure if these goals are

not met.

develops an intelligent theory of life and

work toward implementing it.

embodies the concept of guiding

purpose, ideals, needs, goals, and

values

7. Establishing a

unifying philosophy of

life

Group Activity

• Pictionary• Points (2 pts. each art work)• 2 groups–Each group assigns an artist

Kohlberg’s Stages of

Moral Development

Level 1

Pre- Conventional Morality

Stage 1: Punishment and Obedience

Whatever leads to punishment is wrong

Stage 2: Rewards

The right way to behave is the way that is rewarded

At this stage, the individual:• Avoids pain and seeks pleasure• Has no sense of obligation to anyone else• Self-absorbed (unaware of anyone’s needs other

than those that are self-serving)• Does what he/she wants to do• Amoral (unethical)• Egocentric in assuming that the world revolves

around his/her needs and desires• No sense of cause-effect• Typically between the ages of 0-7

Stage 0

At this stage, the individual:• Obey rules to avoid punishment• Sense of right and wrong is determined by what

is punished and what is not punished• Obeys superior authority and allows him to make

the rules - authority has the power to inflict pain• Is responsive to rules that will affect his/her

physical well-being• Is usually over the age of 7

Stage 1

At this stage, the individual:• Motivated by vengeance or has “an eye for an eye”

philosophy• Self-absorbed while assuming that he/she is

generous• Thinks that everyone gets the same, regardless of

need (equal sharing)• The end justifies the means• Will do a favor only to get a favor• Expects a reward for every non-selfish deed he/she

does• Is usually over the age of 10

Stage 2

Level II

Conventional Morality

Stage 3

Good intentions

Behaving that conforms to good behavior

Stage 4

Obedience to authority

At this stage, the individual:• Gives importance to peer approval • Moral decisions are based on what will please a limited

group and make the person feel included• Considers “majority” as the behavior of the “in crowd” or

peer group• Thinks that intensions are as important as deeds - expects

others to accept intentions or promises in place of deeds• Begins to put himself/herself in another’s shoes and think

from another perspective• May continue to be in this stage until he/she has reached

the age of 20

Stage 3

At this stage, the individual:Maintenance of law and order is of supreme

importantDuty-bound - believes in rigid rules that should not

be changedRespects authority and obeys it without questionSupports the rights of the majority or majority rule

without concern for those in the minorityIs part of about 80% of the population that does not

progress past stage 4

Stage 4

Level III

Post-Conventional Morality

Stage 5

Difference between legal and moral right

Stage 6

Individual principles of conscience

At this stage, the individual:• Believes in the greatest amount of good for the

greatest number of people (Utilitarianism)• Believes in contracts in which both parties compromise

and yet both receive benefits (SCT)• Believes in consensus (everyone agrees), rather than in

majority rule• Respects the rights of the minority especially the rights

of the individual• Believes that change in the law is possible but only

through the system• Has reached the same stage as the official morality of

the nation

Stage 5

At this stage, the individual:Does not compromise high principles, thus, may forfeit

his/her life in order to uphold themBelieves that there are higher moral principles than those

represented by social rules and customsObeys these self-chosen high moral principles Is willing to accept the consequences for disobedience of the

social rule he/she has rejected Uses only passive resistance and has no use for violence in

any formBelieves in granting justice and dignity to all human beings as

inalienable human rightsRespects justice for its moral and legal natureBelieves that the dignity of humanity is sacred and that all

humans have value

Stage 6

Stage 7At this stage, the individual:• Is a “seeker of justice in an unjust world”• Has a cosmic perspective of life• Neglects any consideration for self• Focuses on the whole, a view of self as part of the infinite

whole and not as an individual part that is significant• Feels desperate and sees a problematic world he/she is

incapable of repairing• Possesses an altruism that is difficult for the world to

understand• Has the ability to forgive and compassionate that often

runs in conflict with the world’s sense of justice (i.e. moral level)

Kohlberg observed that some had apparently undergone moral stage regression

Could be resolved either by allowing for moral regression or by extending the theory.

Kohlberg chose the latter, postulating the existence of sub-stages in which the emerging stage has not yet been fully integrated into the personality.

Kohlberg noted a stage 4½ or 4+, a transition from stage four to stage five that shared characteristics of both.

In this stage the individual is disaffected with the arbitrary nature of law and order reasoning; responsibility is frequently turned from being defined by society to viewing society itself as responsible.

This was often observed in students entering college.

SUMMARY• Outward manifestation of your self – from the

limits of your family to making yourself a responsible member of the bigger world.DIMENSIONS OF

MATURITY

• Inner developments that would lead to a very important aspect of human living, knowing what is right and wrong, and fighting for what is right because now you know the significance of your action in the bigger world.

MORAL DEVELOPMENT

References

• Turner, Jeffrey and Helms, Donald. 1989. Contemporary Adulthood. Rolt Rinehart and Winston, Inc.

• Bee, Helen. 1992. The Journey of Adulthood. Macmillan Pub. Co.

• Internet materials • From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia• Becca Pangborn, Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral

Development PowerPoint. presentation