1. Theory of Moral Development Lawrence Kohlberg

2. Lawrence Kohlberg (a professor at Harvard University) became famous for his early work in the early 70s and know for his theory of moral development. He believed and w as a ble to demonstrate through studies that p eople progressed in their moral reasoning through a series of stages.

3. Basically his study consisted of interviewing children, adolescents, and adults and presenting them with stories where the main character faced a moral dilemma. Best known dilemma – “Heinz case”

4. What do you think? Answer the following questions… 1.Should Heinz have stolen the drug? 2.Why was what he did right or wrong?

5. Kohlberg was not interested in the answers that were given, but rather in the reasoning process by which the subjects arrived at their judgment. InternalizationInternalization – the developmental change from behaviour that is externally controlled to behaviour that is controlled by internal, self-generated standards and principles.

6. According to Kohlberg, he argued that as we develop intellectually we pass through as many as six stages of moral reasoning. These six stages are divided into three basic levels.

7. Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development Level One: Preconventional Reasoning Lowest level of moral development Child show no internalization of moral values – controlled by external rewards and punishments.

8. Stage 1: Punishment and Obedience Orientation (spanking) At this stage moral thinking is based on punishment Children obey because adults tell them to obey. Therefore ~ Good or bad is seen in terms of obeying authority and avoiding punishment.

9. Stage 2: Individualism and Purpose Also known as Personal Reward/Personal Usefulness (lollipop) Moral thinking is based on rewards and self-interest. Children obey when they want to obey and when it is their best interest to obey. What is right is what feels good and what is rewarding.

10. Level Two: Conventional Reasoning 2 nd level of moral development Child abides by certain standers (internal), but they are standards of others (external), such as parents or the laws of society.

11. Stage 3: Interpersonal Norms (Pleasing Others – Good Boy/Girl) Children value trust, caring and loyalty to others as the basis of moral judgments. Children often adopt their parents’ moral standards at this stage, seeking to be thought of by their parents as a “good girl” or a “good boy” Right and wrong depends on what makes other people happy or unhappy.

12. If everyone does it…than okay; if everyone says it’s wrong that it’s wrong for me too. Stage 3 tends to be the peer pressure stage where moral decisions are made based on the idea of “what will cause others to accept or reject me”

13. Stage 4: Social System Morality (It’s your duty ~ law and order) Moral judgment is based on understanding the social order, law, justice, duty. Right is what the law says is right. No room for making a decision because a law already exists for a given situation which was developed for the common good.

14. Level Three: Postconventional Reasoning Highest level Morality is completely internalized and not based on others’ standards. The person recognizes alternative moral course, explores the options, and then decides on a personal moral code.

15. Stage 5: Community rights versus Individual Rights Also known as “Social Contract (Civil Disobedience – Conscience)” The person understands that values and laws are relative and that standards may vary from one person to another. Laws are important to society but can be changed. Individual believes what is right is what is good for the rest of society – common good is the goal. Laws are necessary to protect the rights of everyone.

16. Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles (Personal Conscience) Also known as the loving stage One has developed a moral standard based on universal human rights When faced with conflict between law and conscience, the person will follow conscience, even though the decision might involve personal risk. Welfare of all persons – Greatest Good For All Humanity.