Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

1. Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development By: Rachel and Viviana

2. Lawrence Kohlberg • Went against Sigmund Freud and B.F Skinner • Worked around 1963 • Main idea was that “children construct their own standards about what is morally right and wrong, and they often revisit and revise these standards over time as they gain such advance cognitive capabilities as abstract thought and social perspective-taking ability”

3. Key Terms • Moral Dilemma- situation in which there is no clear-cut answer regarding the morally right thing to do • Preconventional Morality- a lack of internalized standards about right and wrong; making decisions based on what is best for oneself, without regard for others’ needs and feelings • Conventional Morality- acceptance of society’s conventions regarding right and wrong; behaving to please others or to live up to society’s expectations for appropriate behavior • Postconventional Morality- behaving in accordance with self-developed abstract principles regarding right and wrong

4. Three Levels and Six Stages of Moral Reasoning

5. Level I: Preconventional Morality • Seen in preschool children, most elementary school students, some junior high school students, and a few high school students • Stage 1: Punishment-avoidance and obedience • Stage 2: Exchange of favors

6. Stage 1 • People make decisions based on what is best for themselves, without thinking about others • They only obey rules made by more powerful individuals, and may disobey them if they aren’t likely to get caught • Wrong behaviors will be punished

7. Stage 2 • People recognize others also have needs • “you scratch my back, I scratch yours” • Continue to define right and wrong in terms of consequences to themselves

8. Level II: Conventional Morality • Seen in a few older elementary school students, some junior high school students, and many high school students • Stage 4 does not typically appear until high school • Stage 3: Good boy/Good girl • Stage 4: Law and order

9. Stage 3 • Decisions made on actions that will please others, especially individuals with high status • Example: teachers, popular peers • Concerned with maintaining relationships through sharing, trust, and loyalty, and take other people’s perspectives into account when making decisions

10. Stage 4 • Society as a whole is used for guidelines about what is right and wrong • Understand that rules are necessary for society to run smoothly • Believe it is their duty to obey them • Don’t necessarily recognize that society needs to change, and rules do as well

11. Level III: Postconventional Morality • Rarely seen before college • Stage 6 is extremely rare even in adults • Stage 5: Social contract • Stage 6: Universal ethical principles

12. Stage 5 • Recognize that rules will present agreements among many individuals • Rules are seen as potentially useful mechanisms to maintain general social orders and protect individual rights • Recognize flexibility of rules

13. Stage 6 • Hypothetical “ideals” that few people reach • Adhere to a few abstract universal principles • Examples: equality of all people, respect for human dignity, commitment to justice • Answer to a conscience and willingly disobey laws that violate their own ethical principles