Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

Chelsea Clark SAE 723

September 18, 2012

Lawrence Kohlberg

“Kohlberg’s Ideas were a dominant force guiding moral development research for over forty years”

(Evans, Forney, Guido, Patton, & Renn, 2010).

1927-1987

History of Kohlberg’s Theory

Based on Paiget’s Model published in the 1920’s› Kohlberg’s early study of young males led

him to revise Paiget’s original three stages› Kohlberg created three more stages

Presented “dilemmas” and asked open ended questions to secure results of moral development

Prerequisites for Moral Development

General cognitive structures Social Perspective taking – being able

to put yourself in another's place

Both areas are necessary for moral development, but in no means are everything needed to foster moral

development

Conditions that Facilitate Moral Development

Exposure to high level cognitive thought› Exposure to thinking at any level higher

than what an individual portrays is sufficient to foster growth and development

Disequilibrium › Students faced with situations that cause

internal conflict in their moral reasoning structure

Preconventional Level Stage 1 – Heteronomous Mortality

› Obeying the rules to avoid punishment› Do not consider the rights or concerns of

others Stage 2 – Individualistic, Instrumental

Mortality› Follow the rules if it is in a persons best

interest – “What’s in it for me” mentality › Ensure satisfaction of a persons own needs

but also understand others have needs as well

Conventional Level Stage 3 – Interpersonally Normative

Morality› “Right” is defined by acceptable social roles

The expectations the people around you have Gaining others approval Shared feelings for the first time are more

important than individual feelings Stage 4 – Social System Mortality

› Also known as law and order› Being defined as following the rules set

forward by authority figures› Doing your duty as a citizen

Postconventional or Principled Level

Stage 5 – Human Rights and Social Welfare Mortality› Citizens recognize that rules set forward by

authority figures are merely a contract based on the majority

› People tend to disobey rules if they find them not in agreement with there personal beliefs

Stage 6 – Morality of Universalizable, Reversible and Prescriptive General Ethical Principles› Moral obligations made by a person’s conscience › Seeing all sides of an issue and being unbiased › Following universally ethical rules

Example – equality of human rights

Further Research

Cultural Difference › Middle/upper class versus rural/working

class› Western versus eastern philosophy

Religious Difference› Strong religious beliefs usually foster an

unwavering loyalty to a higher power which is consistent with conventional stages of moral development

Application of Development Theory

Providing students with opportunities to discuss hypothetical moral dilemmas in a classroom setting

Moral Judgment Interviews to gain knowledge of student’s development in academic programs

Programs that foster personal development and reflection

Supportive social network = growth in moral judgment

Criticisms of Kohlberg

Postconvential level of mortality – putting ones personal beliefs above law and society › Arguing the validity of Stage 6 – is it

possible? Sex – biased

› Carol Gilligan was the one to point this out

References

Cromag. (2012, March 25). Lawrence Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development [Web Log Post]. Retrieved from http://activism101.ning.com/profiles/blogs/lawrence-kohlberg-s- stages-of-moral-development Evans, N.J., Forney, D.S., Guido, F.M., Patton, L.D., & Renn, K.A. (2010). Student development in college: Theory, research, and

practice (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Khouanphet, S. (2010, September 24). Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development [Web Log Post] Retrieved from

http://collegestudentdeveltheory.blogspot.com/2010/09/kohlbergs-theory-of-moral-development.html Long, R. Lawrence Kohlberg. Retrieved from http://relong.myweb.uga.edu W.C. Crain. (1985). Theories of Development. Prentice-Hall. pp. 118-136.