Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development1

7/28/2019 Kohlbergs Theory of Moral Development1

1/46

Kohlbergs Theoryof Moral

DevelopmentBy

Sheila G. Dolipas


2/46

-A developmentalPsychologist-Was greatly influenced

by;-Jean Piaget-John Dewey-James Baldwin

our moral

stage can bedetermined by

the answers wegive to

hypotheticaldilemmas


3/46

The Heinz Dilemma

Scenario 1

A woman was near death from a unique kind of cancer.There is a drug that might save her. The drug costs $4,000

per dosage. The sick woman's husband, Heinz, went toeveryone he knew to borrow the money and tried everylegal means, but he could only get together about $2,000.He asked the doctor scientist who discovered the drug for adiscount or let him pay later. But the doctor scientist

refused.

Should Heinz break into the laboratory to steal the drug forhis wife? Why or why not?


4/46

Scenario 2

Heinz broke into the laboratory and stole thedrug. The next day, the newspapers reportedthe break-in and theft. Brown, a police officerand a friend of Heinz remembered seeing Heinzlast evening, behaving suspiciously near thelaboratory. Later that night, he saw Heinz

running away from the laboratory.Should Brown report what he saw? Why or whynot?


5/46

Scenario 3

Officer Brown reported what he saw.Heinz was arrested and brought to court.If convicted, he faces up to two years' jail.Heinz was found guilty.

Should the judge sentence Heinz toprison? Why or why not?


6/46

Stages of Moral Reasoning

Level One:Pre-conventional Morality

Stage 1: Punishment-Obedience

Orientation

Stage 2: Instrumental Relativist

OrientationLevel Two:Conventional Morality

Stage 3: Good Boy-Nice GirlOrientation

Stage 4: Law and Order Orientation

Level Three:Post-Conventional

Morality

Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation

Stage 6. Universal Ethical PrincipleOrientation


7/46


Level One:Pre-conventional Morality

Stage 1: Punishment-Obedience

Orientation

Stage 2: Instrumental Relativist

Orientation

People do not

understand theconventions/rules of a

society


8/46

Stage 1: Punishment-ObedienceOrientation

"Physical consequences of an action determineits goodness or badness regardless of thehuman meaning or value of these

consequences. Avoidance of punishment andunquestioning deference to power are valued intheir own right, not in terms of respect for anunderlying moral order supported bypunishment and authority." (Duska, R. and

Whelan, M., 1975)


9/46

Possible Stage 1 responses to HeinzDilemma:

Heinz should not steal the drug because hemight be caught and sent to jail.

Heinz should steal the drug because if hedoesn't then his wife might scold him.


10/46


11/46


12/46


13/46


14/46

Stage 2: Instrumental RelativistOrientation

Right action is "that which instrumentally satisfiesone's own needs and occasionally the needs ofothers." "Human relations are viewed in terms likethose of the marketplace; elements of fairness,reciprocity and equal sharing are present, but theyare always interpreted in a physical or pragmaticway. Reciprocity is a matter of 'you scratch myback and I'll scratch yours,' not of loyalty,gratitude or justice." (Duska, R. and Whelan, M.,

1975)


15/46


It is right for Heinz to steal the drug because it cancure his wife and then she can cook for him.

It is right for Heinz to steal the drug because shemight return the favor one day.

The doctor scientist had spent lots of money andmany years of his life to develop the cure so it's

not fair to him if Heinz stole the drug.


16/46

Inadequacy of Stage 2 reasoning:

Where the needs of different individualsconflict, can there ever be a fair exchange?

Doesn't this conflict call for sacrifice fromone of the parties?


17/46


Level Two:Conventional Morality



People conform to the

conventions or rules of

society


18/46


Lawrence Kohlberg: "Good behavior is thatwhich pleases or helps others and isapproved by them. There is much conformityto stereotypical images of what is majorityor 'natural' behavior. Behavior is frequently

judged by intention. 'He means well'becomes important for the first time. Oneearns approval by being 'nice.'" (Duska, R.

and Whelan, M., 1975)


19/46


I dont think any husband should sit back and watch his wife die

Yes, Heinz should steal the drug. He probably will go to jail for ashort time for stealing but his in-laws will think he is a goodhusband.

Brown, the police officer should report that he saw Heinz behavingsuspiciously and running away from the laboratory because hisboss would be pleased.

Officer Brown should not report what he saw because his friendHeinz would be pleased.

The judge should not sentence Heinz to jail for stealing the drugbecause he meant well ... he stole it to cure his wife.


20/46


Same person, different roles OR Differentgroups, different expectations

Different people, different roles


21/46


Lawrence Kohlberg: "Right behavior consists indoing one's duty, showing respect for authorityand maintaining the given social order for its own

sake." A person in this stage "orients to society asa system of fixed rule, law and authority with theprospect of any deviation from rules as leading tosocial chaos." (Duska, R. and Whelan, M., 1975)


22/46


As her husband, Heinz has a duty to save hiswife's life so he should steal the drug. But it'swrong to steal, so Heinz should be prepared to

accept the penalty for breaking the law. The judge should sentence Heinz to jail. Stealing

is against the law! He should not make anyexceptions even though Heinz' wife is dying. If the

judge does not sentence Heinz to jail then othersmay think it's right to steal and there will be chaosin the society.


23/46


Unquestioning obedience toward authorityis unhealthy


24/46


25/46


26/46

Accepted social order may not be the bestpossible order. (the laws of the society

may even be bad)


27/46


Level Three:Post-Conventional Morality


Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principle

Orientation

The moral principlesthat underline the

conventions of asociety areunderstood.


28/46


Lawrence Kohlberg: "Generally with utilitarianovertones. Right action tends to be defined interms of general individual rights and in terms of

standards which have been critically examinedand agreed upon by the whole society ... with anemphasis upon the possibility of changing law interms of rational consideration of social utility(rather than rigidly maintaining it in terms of Stage4 law and order)." (Duska, R. and Whelan, M.,1975)


29/46


Heinz should steal the drug because everyonehas the right to life regardless of the law againststealing. Should Heinz be caught and prosecuted

for stealing then the law (against stealing) needsto be reinterpreted because a person's life is atstake.

The doctor scientist's decision is despicable but

his right to fair compensation (for his discovery)must be maintained. Therefore, Heinz should notsteal the drug.


30/46


How do we arrive at a consensus on therules that are good for society? Should a

majority group impose their preferences ona minority group? What if you disagree withthe decision of the majority? Would youthen disobey "their" rules?


31/46

Stage 6: Universal Ethical PrincipleOrientation

Lawrence Kohlberg: "Right is defined by thedecision of conscience in accord with self-chosenethical principles appealing to logicalcomprehensiveness, universality and consistency.These principles are abstract and ethical (thegolden rule, the categorical imperative) and arenot concrete moral rules like the TenCommandments. At heart, these are universalprinciples of justice, of the reciprocity and equalityof human rights, and of respect for the dignity ofhuman beings as individual persons." (Duska, R.and Whelan, M., 1975)


32/46

The Golden Rule

Do unto others as you would have them dounto you.


33/46

The Categorical Imperative

Act so as to treat man as an end in himself,not merely as a means.

Not interfering or restricting others as a free,rational chooser

It requires not getting in a way of a persons

reasoning or acting as an independent agent.


34/46

Possible Stage 6 response to HeinzDilemma:

Heinz should steal the drug to save his wifebecause preserving human life is a higher

moral obligation than preserving property.


35/46


36/46


Our CONSCIENCE is not a reliable guideto behavior because it works according to

the principles we have adopted. Moreover,who or what determines these universalprinciples?


37/46


38/46


39/46

Characteristics:

Stage Development isinvariant

Stage 6

Stage 5

Stage 4

Stage 3

Stage 2

Stage 1


40/46

In stage development, Subjects cannotcomprehend moral reasoning at stage

more than one stage beyond their own.

Stage 3

Stage 2

Stage 1


41/46

IT is better togive than to

receive!


42/46

Individuals are cognitively attracted toreasoning on level above their own present

predominant level.

Stage 2

Stage 1


43/46

Movement through stages is realized whencognitive disequilibrium is created, that is,

when a persons cognitive outlook is notadequate to cope with a given moraldilemma.

Stage 2

Stage 1

Cognitivedisequilibrium


44/46

It is quite possible for a human being to bephysically mature but not morally mature.

Stage 1/2/3


45/46

Kolhberg believed thatonly about 25% of

persons ever grow toLEVEL SIX, themajority remaining atLEVEL 4

stage 6 stage 4


46/46

Conclusion

Reasoning when acted upon becomes ourmotivation and MOTIVATION IS JUST ASIMPORTANT AS OUR ACTIONS.

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development1

Documents

Transcript of Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development1