Moral Reasoning Lawrence Kohlberg’s Theory

Lawrence Kohlberg Jewish American Jewish American WWII veteran in European Theatre WWII veteran in European Theatre Lied about age to volunteer for Army Lied about age to volunteer for Army Among first Am. GI’s to see the camps Among first Am. GI’s to see the camps Walking skeletons, Human bones in the furnace,… Walking skeletons, Human bones in the furnace,… Cypress Camps after WWII Cypress Camps after WWII Returned to school to study Psychology Returned to school to study Psychology How could people do this to people? How could people do this to people? How could they think that this was ok? How could they think that this was ok?

The Research Technique Kohlberg’s Experiment Kohlberg’s Experiment Interviewed children of various ages Interviewed children of various ages Interviewed adults of different ages Interviewed adults of different ages Presented them with a moral dilemma Presented them with a moral dilemma See overhead example of Fred & Marcy See overhead example of Fred & Marcy There is no “correct” answer There is no “correct” answer Answer is irrelevant to Kohlberg Answer is irrelevant to Kohlberg Kohlberg noted HOW an answer was being arrived at Kohlberg noted HOW an answer was being arrived at What reasoning did they use to decide? What reasoning did they use to decide?

Stages of Moral Reasoning Level One: Preconventional (Personal Impact) Level One: Preconventional (Personal Impact) Stage 1: Punishment/Obedience Stage 1: Punishment/Obedience It is wrong, if you are punished for it. It is wrong, if you are punished for it. Physical consequences Physical consequences A big punishment then means what to a child? A big punishment then means what to a child? Stage 2: Personal Reward Stage 2: Personal Reward It is right if I benefit from it It is right if I benefit from it Personal needs are most important Personal needs are most important Magnitude of the benefit tells what about the action? Magnitude of the benefit tells what about the action?

Stages of Moral Reasoning Level Two: Conventional (Personal Approval) Level Two: Conventional (Personal Approval) Stage 3: Good Boy/Good Girl Stage 3: Good Boy/Good Girl If I do this, Mommy will think I’m a “good boy/girl” If I do this, Mommy will think I’m a “good boy/girl” Right & wrong reasoned based on other’s approval Right & wrong reasoned based on other’s approval Pre-pubescent- Approval of authority figures Pre-pubescent- Approval of authority figures Post-pubescent- Approval of peers Post-pubescent- Approval of peers Stage 4: Law & Order Stage 4: Law & Order Because it’s against the Law! Because it’s against the Law! Laws are absolute, no gray areas or chaos will erupt Laws are absolute, no gray areas or chaos will erupt Family obligations? Family obligations?

Stages of Moral Reasoning Level Three: Post-Conventional (Personal Interpretation) Level Three: Post-Conventional (Personal Interpretation) Stage 5: Social Contract Stage 5: Social Contract Given my situation I had no other choice! Given my situation I had no other choice! Laws are attempts at morality but are still contrived. Laws are attempts at morality but are still contrived. Meant for most situations but not all situations Meant for most situations but not all situations Stage 6: Universal Ethic Stage 6: Universal Ethic Always right? Always right? Always wrong? Always wrong?

Kohlberg’s Theory in Practice Classroom discipline Classroom discipline How does it inform how to deal with children? How does it inform how to deal with children? Preschool? Preschool? Primary? Primary? Middle School? Middle School? Secondary? Secondary?

Critiques of Kohlberg Limited research to boys Limited research to boys Carol Gilligan Carol Gilligan Feminist Theorist Feminist Theorist Females develop differently than boys Females develop differently than boys Harmony of the group Harmony of the group Responsibility Responsibility Caring for others Caring for others See overhead See overhead