Transcript Lawrence Kohlberg

LAWRENCE KOHLBERG
Stage Theory of Moral Development
LAWRENCE KOHLBERG ( 1927-1987)
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Born into a wealthy
family in New York
Was a merchant marine
in WW2
Snuck Jews through
British blockade of
Palestine
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Inspired him to study
moral development
Earned his BA in
Psychology in 1 year at
University of Chicago
and his doctorate by
1958.
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Work was based on Piaget and
Dewey
Taught at Yale then Harvard
Survey approach – tell story and
measure responses
Developed rare tropical disease
that disabled him in many ways
and caused extreme depression
in 1973
Disappeared in January 1987
and was later found in a swamp
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Some suspect suicide.
THE THEORY IN A NUTSHELL
Came up with a cognitive
theory about the development
of children’s moral reasoning.
 This happens in stages that
are always sequential and
cannot be skipped
 Children advance at different
rates and not everyone
reaches the last stage
 There are three levels of
moral development
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2 stages within each level
THE PRECONVENTIONAL LEVEL
0-9 Years
 Preconventional moral reasoning: judgments
are based on consequences of actions/behavior.
 Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment
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“good” is what helps avoid punishment
Stage 2: Instrumental Morality
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“good” is what satisfies needs
THE CONVENTIONAL LEVEL
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Conventional moral reasoning: judgments
based on whether the act conform to conventional
standards/rules/expectations.
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Stage 3: Good Boy/Girl Morality
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These come from influences like family, religion, and
society as a whole.
“good” meets your needs and the expectations of other
people
Stage 4: Law and Order
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“good” means maintaining social order and following
the rules
THE POSTCONVENTIONAL STAGE
Postconventional moral reasoning: reasoning
based on a person’s own moral standards of goodness
 Stage 5: Social Contract
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Recognizes that laws have a purpose and value and
shouldn’t be violated without good reason
 Laws cannot bind someone in exceptional circumstances
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Stage 6: Principles of Conscience
Acts that that support the values of human life, justice and
dignity are moral and “good”
 Rely on your own conscience
 Don’t necessarily obey laws or agree with other’s opinions
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GUIDED PRACTICE
HOLES AND BIAS IN KOHLBERG’S THEORY
Boys appear to reason at higher levels of moral
development than girls.
 Kohlberg believed that few people can make it
past stage 4.
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GILLIGAN’S THEORY OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT
Females go through stages of moral development
too but the involve her perception of herself in
relationship to others.
 3 Stages
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Stage 1: Survival
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Caring for self/ I have no one but myself
Transition of self centeredness to responsibility
 Stage 2: Goodness
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Caring for Others
Transition of Conformity to social expectations to
choice
(my needs versus the needs of others)
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Stage3: Balance
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Caring for self and others
APPLICATION
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Consider both the theories of Kohlberg and
Gilligan, which do you think has more validity in
your life? What stage do you think you are
currently in? Why?