6. Morality - Kohlberg Flashcards
Theory
Developed from Piaget’s theory
6 stages based on moral dilemmas
5 Characteristics of Kohlberg’s Stages
- Qualitative differences between stages
- Structured wholes*
- Invariant sequence - everyone goes through all stages, no skipping
- Hierarchical integration - learning from each stage is taken into the next stage
- Cross-culture universal - order is universal, across all cultures
Level 1
Preconventional morality
Stage 1: Punishment & obedience orientation
Stage 2: Naive hedonism/Individualism & exchange
Stage 1 - Obedience & Punishment Orientation
Rules are absolute, handed down by impenetrable authorities & must be obeyed
Punishments are unavoidable
Morality is external
Consequences are crucial
Stage 1: Heinz Dilemma
Focused on damage & crime
Steal: he asked first & the drug isn’t worth that price, no other damage is done, won’t be punished because it’s not a big deal
*Don’t steal: stealing is wrong
Stage 2 - Individualism & Exchange/Naive Hedonism
Morality is understood to be relative to the person and situation they are in
Punishment is a risk that we try to avoid
You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours - hope to be rewarded
Preconventional - still thinking as individuals, not members of society
No longer one absolute view
Stage 2: Heinz Dilemma
Able to understand the different viewpoints of Heinz vs the pharmacist
Steal: so that (future) children & family won’t suffer
Heinz isn’t harming the pharmacist
Wife will be thankful & might do the same for Heinz one day
Don’t steal: Heinz might go to prison
The pharmacist just wants to make money, he’s not evil
Level 2 - Conventional Morality
Majority of people are in this stage
We take other perspectives into account for social approval
Some internalization
SOCIAL APPROVAL
Stage 3: Good interpersonal relationships/Good boy/girl
Stage 4: Maintaining the social order
Stage 3 - Good interpersonal relationships/Good boy/girl
‘Good’ behaviour is identifiable through good intentions, empathy, love, concern for others etc.
We assume the community agrees with us
Focus on motives, not consequences
Thinking as members of society
Stage 3: Heinz Dilemma
Intentions
Steal: Heinz’s intentions to save his wife were good & noble, the pharmacists greedy intentions were bad
Don’t steal: Heinz is not responsible for his wife’s illness or death, he is not heartless for not wanting to commit a crime
The pharmacist is still the villain
Stage 4 - Maintaining the social order
Rules should be followed to maintain order, decisions should not be made based on individual morality
Concerned with society as a whole
Think as members of society
Stage 4: Heinz Dilemma
Steal: the pharmacist is in the wrong for letting someone die, so it’s Heinz duty to make that right
However, Heinz must pay for this crime
Don’t steal: it’s always wrong to steal. Rules must be followed regardless or feeling or special circumstances
Level 3 - Post-Conventional Morality
Moral internalization takes place
Can distinguish between what is legal and what is right
Civil disobedience
Stage 5: Social contract & individual rights
Stage 6: Universal principles
Civil Disobedience
Active refusal to obey laws for moral reasons
Stage 5 - Social contract & individual rights
What makes a society ‘good’, not necessarily a smooth running society
Morality & rights can be prioritized over some laws
Civil disobedience - disobeying the law is only justified when rights are being violated
More hesitant than stage 6
We should change laws democratically
