ABSTRACT
The following chapter reviews and examines the work that has been done with toddlers that suggests their capacity for early moral awareness and feelings. There are a number of studies indicating prosocial behavior, empathic respond ing, and awareness of standards in 1-to 2-year-olds. There is also research on individual cognitive, linguistic, and affective accomplishments of the second year which suggest a capacity for empathic responding and understanding right and wrong. Two observational studies which examine a combination of these acquisitions and behaviors are discussed: Judy Dunn’s study (1987, 1988) which examines the social interactional contexts that support moral awareness and Sharon Lamb’s (1988) which examines the issue of maturational preparedness.
