Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development Learning Object for INSYS 448 By Becca Pangborn

In this tutorial, you will… • Learn Kohlberg’s seven stages of moral development • Explore how to apply this theory to William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies • Explore the relationship of these stages to your life experience

Proceed through the tutorial by clicking on the following links: • What’s this all about? • Learn Kohlberg’s Seven Stages • Progress Activity • Play the Moral Development Game • Final Assessment

What’s this all about? Visit the following link and read ONLY the first section entitled “The Heinz Dilemma,” thinking about the italicized questions as you read http://www.vtaide.com/png/Kohlberg.htm

Kohlberg’s Seven StagesClick on the links to learn about each stage Pre-Conventional Moral Development • Stage 0 • Stage 1 • Stage 2 Conventional Moral Development • Stage 3 • Stage 4 Post-Conventional Moral Development • Stage 5 • Stage 6 • Stage 7 Information from these pages was copied from a school handout, author unknown. BACK (BACK TO FINAL ASSESSMENT)

Stage 0 At this stage, the individual: • Avoids pain and seeks pleasure • Has no sense of obligation to anyone else • Is self-absorbed (unaware or anyone’s needs other than those that are self-serving) • Does what he/she wants to do • Is amoral • Is totally egocentric in assuming that the world revolves around his/her needs and desires • Has thus no sense of cause-effect • Is typically between the ages of 0-7 BACK

Stage 1 At this stage, the individual: • Obeys rules in order to avoid punishment • Determines a sense of right and wrong by what is punished and what is not punished • Obeys superior authority and allows that authority to make the rules, especially if that 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 BACK

Stage 2 At this stage, the individual: • Is motivated by vengeance or “an eye for an eye” philosophy • Is self-absorbed while assuming that he/she is generous • Believes in equal sharing in that everyone gets the same, regardless of need • Believes that the end justifies the means • Will do a favor only to get a favor • Expects to be rewarded for every non-selfish deed he/she does • Is usually over the age of 10 BACK

Stage 3 At this stage, the individual: • Finds peer approval very important • Makes moral decisions on the basis of what will please a limited group and make the person feel included • Thus models behavior on that of the “majority” which is the behavior of the “in crowd” or peer group • Feels that intensions are as important as deeds and 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 him/her has reached the 20s in age BACK

Stage 4 At this stage, the individual: • Continues past actions and behaviors in tradition since the maintenance of law and order is supremely important • Is a duty doer who believes in rigid rules that should not be changed • Respects authority and obeys it without question • Supports the rights of the majority or majority rule without concern for those in the minority • Is part of about 80% of the population that does not progress past stage 4 BACK

Stage 5 At this stage, the individual: • Is motivated by the belief in the greatest amount of good for the greatest number of people • Believes in contracts in which both parties compromise and yet both receive benefits • 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 BACK

Stage 6 At this stage, the individual: • Loses the ability to compromise high principles and thus may forfeit his/her life in order to uphold them • Believes that there are high moral principles than those represented by social rules and customs • Obeys 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 form • Believes in granting justice and dignity to all human beings as inalienable human rights • Respects justice for its moral nature and its legal nature • Believes that the dignity of humanity is sacred and that all humans have value BACK

Stage 7 At 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 not on the individual but on the whole, a view of self as part of the infinite whole and not as an individual part that is significant • Thus is plagued with despair and sees a world of woe that he/she is inadequate to repair • Possesses an altruism that is difficult for the world to comprehend and consequently his/her forgiveness and compassion often runs afoul of the world’s sense of justice I.e. moral level BACK

Progress ActivityPrint and complete this chart after thinking about the seven stages and submit to teacher BACK

Play the Moral Development Game! DIRECTIONS: • Play the game by clicking on this link http://www.dushkin.com/connectext/psy/ch03/kohlberg.mhtml • Write a brief summary of your experience with the game and email it to your teacher (rmp15@scasd.org) BACK

Final Assessment DIRECTIONS: • Reflect on all you have learned about Kohlberg’s Moral Development Theory • Consider events and decisions you have made in your own life. • Place yourself within one of Kohlberg’s Moral Development stages (To see the stages again, click here) • Write a two-page paper about the stage you believe you are currently in and why. Use situations and evidence from your experience to support your claim. • Email your paper to your teacher (rmp15@scasd.org) • CONGRATULATIONS! You have finished this tutorial!

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development