The Theory’s Focus
Moral development is usually viewed as one aspect of socialization, with socialization meaning the process by which children learn to conform to the expectations of the culture in which they grow up. In the case of moral values, children not only learn to conform, but also internalize these standards and thereby accept the standards as correct and as representing their own personal values. A value is considered to be internalized and not just imposed by outsiders when the child conforms in situations 1. That tempt the child to transgress and 2. That afford slight chance of the child’s behavior being discovered, punished ,or rewarded.