Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development

Who is Kohlberg? M M

Theories of Moral Development Goal of Kohlberg was to discover what types of moral decisions most people make and how they develop their moral decision making abilities. He presented people (mostly men) with moral dilemmas and then analyzed their decisions and WHY they made their decisions. Found that most people go through similar stages of moral development and that this sequence is the same for almost all people. – That all people start from the first and follow a specific sequence. – Most do not go past level 4/5

Kohlberg’s Theory He posed the following moral dilemma to people in order to gather information:

Three Levels

Stage 1: Punishment and Obedience Children of young ages make moral decisions based on rewards and punishments. They learn that “yes” allows them to do something which in turn gets a positive response  hug, cookie. “No” will result in somehow making them feel uncomfortable  punishment/negative feedback.

Stage 1: Punishment and Obedience For children, good and bad is seen in terms of earning rewards and avoiding punishment and if you don’t get punished then it is okay. Basic criminal mentality. Many teens and adults think the same. – It’s okay to have sex as long as I don’t get a disease or pregnant. – Okay to cheat as long as I don’t get caught. – Don’t report hitting a parked car if no one saw.

Stage 2 –Personal Usefulness Self-centered. As children get a bit older they make decisions on what makes them feel good. Right is something that makes them feel good. Bad is the opposite. Selfish because the needs of others is considered only in so far as they affect one’s own needs.

Stage 2 –Personal Usefulness Calls it a reverse Golden rule  “Don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you.” “If I do this for you, you’ll do that for me.” You may harm someone in order to not get harmed yourself. Many adults and teens are in this stage of development.

Stage 3 – Conforming to the Will of the Group Concept of right and wrong depends mainly on what pleases or displeases others. If others approve of a situation or decision then it must be right. If everyone is doing it, then it must be a good act. Also known as the peer pressure stage Moral decisions at this stage are known as “going along with the crowd”

Stage 3 – Conforming to the Will of the Group Bad equals whatever causes others to not like them. Kohlberg’s research shows that many adults never reach this stage and those that do stay in it for the rest of their lives.

Stage 3 – Conforming to the Will of the Group Appears in the early teens – The girl who wants to be really liked by a boy (boyfriend) will do anything to please him. The excuse “but everybody else...” is the great reasoning behind the actions.

Stage 4 – Authority and Social Order Many adults never reach the fourth level of moral development in their thinking or in the basis of their decision making. Those who do seem to remain at this level. Basically viewing right as doing that which is obedient to the law and to legitimate authority. Legally right makes it moral. No law does not make it morally wrong.

Stage 4 – Authority and Social Order The individual follows the ruling by the legitimate authority without having to think about it. If the religion says it’s wrong then it is automatically morally wrong. Teens at this level think something is alright so long as the authority figures in their life say it is alright. You may have sexual interactions as long as your parents don’t seem to mind. No real argument against it leaves it morally open

Stage 5 – Social Contract and Human Rights Goes beyond that of law and order – looks behind the laws and majority opinion. What is right is what society’s constitution guarantees and upholds. What the society agrees to be common conduct. If the laws uphold these they are alright to follow. If they do not, they are wrong.

Stage 5 – Social Contract and Human Rights The concern is the greater common purpose. Most adults never reach this level. Not really concerned in practice when making their own decisions about the welfare of the rest of society. Students obey school rules not because they are respecting the rights of others. They don’t vandalize out of a concern for social concern. They vandalize because they don’t want to get caught.

Stage 5 – Social Contract and Human Rights Individuals don’t speed cause of a concern for people’s right to life. They don’t want to be part of the hassles of getting a ticket. Adults uphold contracts and promises not because of what might happen if everyone went against their word, but because they may get sued, or people will think bad of them, or punished because they broke the law.

Stage 6 – Universal Ethical Principle Highest level. Based on certain universal principles. The “things” that laws and rules are based. They are seen to be good in themselves. What is right is based on their conscience and how to best apply those principles to any given situation. The principle behind the act. More than yourself and just others.

Stage 6 – Universal Ethical Principle Deal with what all as a whole would like. Ex. The Golden Rule  Everyone wants and deserves to be treated with the dignity and respect extended to certain individuals, regardless of which society or status they belong to. These individuals will put aside self interest for the sake of a greater good.

Stage 6 – Universal Ethical Principle Reward is not their motive, willing to risk disapproval, willing to take the risk of punishment, willing to set aside a cultural law. The principles they base their decisions on have the welfare of all peoples, not just theirs or their group’s. Sometimes they go against their whole country. Jesus, Ghandi