1. Moral Development Tutorial
Module C Lesson 1

2. How to Navigate Tutorial
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3. Lesson 5 Index Theories of Moral Reasoning Lawrence Kohlberg
Carol Gilligan
John Haidt
Neurobiological Basis of Moral Reasoning
In Conclusion
References

4. Objective #12
Contrast different theories of moral reasoning, according to Lawrence Kohlberg, Carol Gilligan, and John Haidt

5. Lawrence Kohlberg
According to Kohlberg our moral decisions are motivated by the principles of fairness and justice

6. Kohlberg’s Research Kohlberg had male subjects respond moral dilemmas
He wasn’t concerned with their resolutions to the dilemmas, rather how they arrived at those decisions
As a result of his research Kohlberg concluded that there are qualitative differences in how moral decisions are made

7. Kohlberg’s Theory
Kohlberg concluded that there are measurable qualitative patterns of moral thought that he divided into 3 different levels
Each level is further divided into qualitatively different stages
As cognitive development progresses we move through each of these stages
The later stages of development are considered higher moral thought

8. Pre-Conventional Level
At this level moral decisions are not internally motivated but are instead driven by external factors
Stage 1: Punishment and Obedience
Moral decisions are made based on avoiding punishment.
Stage 2: Mutual Benefit
Moral decisions are made in consideration of personal interest

9. Conventional Level
At this level moral decisions moral decisions are not internally motivated but are instead driven by external factors
Stage 3: Interpersonal Expectations
Moral decisions are made based on seeking approval from others.
Stage 4: Law and Order
Moral decisions are made consistent with legal principles and rules

10. Post-Conventional Level
At this level moral decisions moral decisions are not internally motivated but are instead driven by external factors
Stage 5: Legal Principles
Moral decisions are made based on legal principles but understanding that laws change and are not perfect, therefore open to interpretation.
Stage 6: Universal Moral Principles
Moral decisions are made based on abstract principles of justices and fairness, and when in conflict with the law personal conscious is followed

11. Evaluating Kohlberg’s Theory
Western emphasis on individual rights, harm, and justice
It doesn’t reflect collectivist emphasis on interdependence and group harmony
As quoted by a man from New Guinea, “If nobody helped him, I would say that we had caused the crime.”
Only males were studied…so what about women?

12. Carol Gilligan
According to Gilligan women’s moral decisions are driven by a care orientation

13. Carol Gilligan – Gender differences
Gilligan questioned why women were consistently scoring at the lower levels of moral reasoning according to Kohlberg’s theory
Criticized Kohlberg’s theory of moral development as being biased toward a male perspective (due to the fact that his research subjects were male)
Gilligan proposed a theory of female moral development explaining that women are driven by a care-orientation

14. The Care Orientation “The moral judgments of women differ from
that of men in the greater extent to which
women’s judgments are tied to feelings of
empathy and compassion
and are concerned with the resolution of real
as opposed to hypothetical dilemmas.”
Gilligan, 1982

15. Evaluating Gilligan’s Theory
Not all women operate from care-orientation
Culturally shaped gender role for women to be nurturing

16. John Haidt
According to Haidt we are all driven by 5 universal moral inpulses

17. Harm / Care

18. Fairness / Reciprocity

19. Authority / Respect

20. In-Group Loyalty

21. Purity / Sanctity

22. Evaluating Haidt’s Theory
We all share common universal moral impulses but individually we may have stronger emphasis on one or more
Liberals more likely to operate from Harm/Care and Justice/Fairness
Conservatives more likely to operate from Authority/Respect, In-group Loyalty, and Purity/Sanctity
Purity/Sanctity is the greatest predictor of attitudes on abortion and gay marriage

23. Question
Where does moral thought take place in the brain?

24. The Brain and Moral Reasoning
Frontal Lobe (blue)
Temporal Lobe (green)
Abstract reasoning
Working memory
Willful thinking
Regulates emotions

25. In conclusion…

26. What is morality? What do you think?
It depends…on whose theory you are studying
Is it based on individual rights?
Is it based on care and empathy?
Is it based on universal moral impulses?
What do you think?

27. References
Haidt, J. (2007). Moral Psychology and the Misunderstanding of Religion. Retrieved August 13, 2009 from
Jacobs, T. (2009, April 27). Morals Authority. Retrieved October 4, 2009 from
Kim, E. (n.d.). Moral Reasoning: Lawrence Kohlberg. Retrieved from
Naukan, D. and Fredendall, C. (n.d.). Morality in Kohlberg and Gilligan [PowerPoint]. Retrieved October 4, 2009 from
Newberg, A. and Waldman, M.R. (2006). Why We Believe What We Believe: Uncovering Our Biological Need for Meaning, Spirituality, and Truth. New York: Free Press.