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Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development

How exactly do children develop morality? This question has fascinated parents, religious leaders, and philosophers for ages, but moral development has also become a hot-button issue in both psychology and education. Do parental or societal influences play a greater role in moral development? Do all kids develop morality in similar ways? One of the best known theories exploring some of these basic questions was developed by a psychologist named Lawrence Kohlberg. His work modified and expanded upon Piaget’s previous work to form a theory that explained how children develop moral reasoning.

Level 1. Preconventional Morality

Stage 1 - Obedience and Punishment

The earliest stage of moral development is especially common in young children, but adults are also capable of expressing this type of reasoning. At this stage, children see rules as fixed and absolute. Obeying the rules is important because it is a means to avoid punishment.

Stage 2 - Individualism and Exchange

At this stage of moral development, children account for individual points of view and judge actions based on how they serve individual needs. In the Heinz dilemma, children argued that the best course of action was the choice that best-served Heinz’s needs. Reciprocity is possible at this point in moral development, but only if it serves one's own interests.

Level 2. Conventional Morality

Stage 3 - Interpersonal Relationships

Often referred to as the "good boy-good girl" orientation, this stage of moral development is focused on living up to social expectations and roles. There is an emphasis on conformity, being "nice," and consideration of how choices influence relationships.

Stage 4 - Maintaining Social Order

At this stage of moral development, people begin to consider society as a whole when making judgments. The focus is on maintaining law and order by following the rules, doing one’s duty and respecting authority.

Level 3. Postconventional Morality

Stage 5 - Social Contract and Individual Rights

At this stage, people begin to account for the differing values, opinions, and beliefs of other people. Rules of law are important for maintaining a society, but members of the society should agree upon these standards.

Stage 6 - Universal Principles

Kohlberg’s final level of moral reasoning is based upon universal ethical principles and abstract reasoning. At this stage, people follow these internalized principles of justice, even if they conflict with laws and rules.

Moral Development Task:

Go out and interview people. Be sure you interview both students and adults and people of all ages (freshmen-seniors and adults of different ages).

1. Tell them you are studying morality in your psychology class. Ask them if it’s okay if you ask them a few questions about this topic.

2. Read them the “Heinz Dilemma” below.

3. Ask them the questions below.

4. REMEMBER their answers don’t matter as much as their EXPLANATIONS of their answers.

5. Try to determine which stage they are in.

6. After the discussion, explain to them what you were studying.

A man called Heinz lived somewhere in Europe. Heinz’s wife was dying from a particular type of cancer. Doctors said a new drug might save her. The drug had been discovered by a local chemist and the Heinz tried desperately to buy some, but the chemist was charging ten times the money it cost to make the drug and this was much more than the Heinz could afford.

Heinz could only raise half the money, even after help from family and friends. He explained to the chemist that his wife was dying and asked if he could have the drug cheaper or pay the rest of the money later. The chemist refused saying that he had discovered the drug and was going to make money from it. The husband was desperate to save his wife, so later that night he broke into the chemist’s and stole the drug.

QUESTIONS:

1. Should Heinz have stolen the drug?

2. Would it change anything if Heinz did not love his wife?

3. What if the person dying was a stranger, would it make any difference?

4. Should the police arrest the chemist for murder if the woman died?

Teachers on plan:

Brown

Kirkwood

Loughran

Reynolds

Schmitt

Tatham

Ward

Moral Dilemmas

Scenario #1

Suppose that you have an eighth hour class that not exactly ‘your favorite’. Before class one day a group of your friends who do not have an eighth hour class invite you to ditch class and go to Starbucks. They have some extra passes they could use as a cover to make it look like you were being called to the counselor’s office. What would you do? Would you go to class, or would you go with your friends? Why or why not?

Scenario #2

While leaving work at the end of your shift you punch out only to find someone who has not been at work also punching the clock to time out. The person says they know that they are not being honest but they need extra hours because they are in debt and have to pay off their bills. You know that the shop owner is barely keeping the shop open and feel some loyalty to her as she is willing to give you hours that work with your schedule. You also understand your co-workers plight and do not want them to lose their job. Do you tell the owner what you saw? Why or why not?

Scenario #3

Suppose that you have a very important test to take on Friday. It is critical that you earn a high score on this exam because you need it to keep your grade at the A level and your potential college will be looking closely at your grades from this semester. As a result you decide to meet your instructor after school for some additional help. When you get to the teacher’s office you find out that she had to leave early that day. Upon finding this out, you happen to look down on her desk and see 40 copies of the test, and to add to the temptation, you also notice that you are the only one in the office. What would you do? Would you steal the test? Why or why not?

Scenario #4

While leaving your friends house, you notice another car down the street also pulling out of a driveway, they hit a car that is parked across the street directly behind the driveway. You can tell even from a distance that they have left a significant dent in the driver’s side door. They pull away without leaving a note and you know they do not live in the house they have just left. Do you call the police? Why or why not?

Scenario #5

While out with your friends for dinner you notice that the longtime girlfriend of someone you know is a romantic dinner date with another guy. They do not notice you and you do not know the person with the girl. At first you think this could just be a friend, but as the dinner continues they hold hands and kiss. You know that she is still dating your friend because you had just seen them together and had spoken to your friend that morning. Do you tell your friend what you saw? Why or why not?

Scenario #6

You have just purchased a backpack from a major department store. The bag cost more money than you wanted to spend but you are hoping that it will last for a number of years. When you arrive home, you realize that in addition to you backpack, there is also an expensive key chain and planner in the shopping bag that was likely being bagged for another customer, you double check your receipt and confirm that you did not pay for either of the “extra” items. Do you return these to the store and tell them what happened? Why or why not.

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development

Directions: After reading the scenario presented to your group, completing the following sheet to represent potential decisions for each stage in Kohlberg’s Theory. Name each stage before applying it to the scenario.

Preconventional Level

Stage One ___________________________:

Rationale:

Stage Two ___________________________:

Rationale:

Conventional Level:

Stage Three___________________________:

Rationale:

Stage Four ___________________________:

Rationale:

Postconventional Level:

Stage Five___________________________:

Rationale:

Stage Six___________________________:

Rationale:

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