Transcript Kohlberg`s Moral Development Theory - Windsor C

Lawrence Kohlberg
• Kohlberg sees moral
development as a more
gradual process than
Piaget, but still one that
progresses through set
stages.
• Also like Piaget, he
believed that it was the
thinking behind moral
judgments that was
crucial in determining
the child's level.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
• For example, most
children believe that it is
wrong to break the law.
• However, the reasons
they give are indicative of
their reasoning, so
'because it is wrong'
would suggest a low level
of moral development.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development
Level I:
“might
Punishment/obedience
makes right” orientation: self-interest
Level II:
“look out for
number
one”
“good girl,
nice boy”
“law and
order”
Stage
Preconventional 1
moral reasoning
Stage
2
Conventional
moral reasoning
Level III:
Postconventional
moral reasoning
Stage
3
Stage
4
Stage
5
Stage
6
“social
contract”
“universal
ethical
principles”
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Instrumental/relativist
orientation: quid pro
quo
Proper behavior for the
social approval
Proper behavior of the
dutiful citizen, obey
laws
Mutual benefit to all,
obey society’s rules
Defend right/wrong, not
just majority, all life is
sacred (reflective)
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Reasoning
• I. Preconventional Morality
– Behavior motivated by anticipation of pleasure or pain.
–
– STAGE 1: PUNISHMENT AND OBEDIENCE:
– Avoidance of physical punishment and deference to
power.
–
– STAGE 2: INSTRUMENTAL EXCHANGE:
– Exchange of favors or blows. "You scratch my back,
I'll scratch yours."Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Reasoning
B. CONVENTIONAL MORALITY:
Acceptance of the rules and standards of one's group.
STAGE 3: INTERPERSONAL CONFORMITY:
Individual acts to gain approval of others.
Good behavior is that which pleases or helps others within the group.
One earns approval by being conventionally "respectable" and "nice."
STAGE 4: LAW AND ORDER:
Respect for rules, laws and properly constituted authority.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Reasoning
• C. POSTCONVENTIONAL OR PRINCIPLED
MORALITY:
• Ethical principles
• STAGE 5: PRIOR RIGHTS AND SOCIAL CONTRACT:
• Moral action in a specific situation is not defined by
reference to a checklist of rules, but from logical
application of moral principles.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Reasoning
• STAGE
6: 6:
UNIVERSAL
ETHICAL
PRINCIPLES:
STAGE
UNIVERSAL
ETHICAL
PRINCIPLES:
individualwho
whoreaches
reaches this
out
of of
 •AnAn
individual
this stage
stageacts
acts
out
universal
principles
based
upon
the equality
and worth
universal
principles
based
upon
the equality
and
of of
all all
human
beings.
worth
human
beings.
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Kohlberg's Moral Development Theory
Watch Kohlberg’s SocialWorkexam video
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09DsCWR67u4
Kohlberg's Moral Development Theory
Insert Kohlberg's Moral Development Theory video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zY4etXWYS84
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Kohlberg's Moral Development
Theory
• Younger children see
the act as a simply
wrong with no black
and white.
• Older children and
adults see
alternative aspects,
such as human life is
worth breaking the
law
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
What Would You Do?
• Imagine a runaway
trolley heading for
five people.
• All of them will die
unless you throw a
switch that diverts
the trolley to another
track, where is would
kill ONE person.
• What do you do????
• Imagine the same
dilemma, except that
the only chance you
have to save the
people is to throw a
stranger in front of
the trolley, where his
body would stop the
trolley.
• What would you do?