A2 - Turning to Crime - Cognitive - Moral Development

Question 1

Context: what did Kohlberg come up with?

Answer 1

30 aspects of moral judgement after analysing answers to hypothetical moral dilemmas.

Question 2

Context: What is level 1 of Kohlberg’s moral judgement?

Answer 2

Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment
- obeying authority and actions are influenced by avoiding punishment
Stage 2: Instrumental Purpose
- doing right actions in exchange for a reward

Question 3

Context: What is level 2 of Kohlberg’s moral judgement?

Answer 3

Stage 3: Conformity
- winning the approval of others dominates moral thinking
Stage 4: Law and Order
- Respect for authority and societies values are important as well as doing one’s duty

Question 4

Context: What is level 3 of Kohlberg’s moral judgement?

Answer 4

Stage 5: Social contract & Individual Rights
- greatest good for greatest number
Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles
- self-chosen ethical guidelines based on respect and equality for everyone

Question 5

Who conducted the study on moral judgement?

Answer 5

Palmer & Hilling (1998)

Question 6

What was the sample of Palmer & Hilling’s study?

Answer 6

332 non-offenders: 210 females, 122 males and 126 convicted male offenders

Question 7

What did participants do?

Answer 7

They completed moral dilemma-related questions, such a: socio-economic status; self-reported delinquency checklist and socio-moral reflection measure short form.

Question 8

What did they find? (4 points)

Answer 8

1. The SRD checklist found that offenders had less of a moral reasoning.
2. The SRMRSF found male offenders had the least mature moral reasoning (Kohlberg’s pre-conventional reasoning)
3. The majority of non-offenders were using conventional reasoning.
4. Female non-offenders showed a more mature level of moral reasoning than non-offenders.

Question 9

How is the study ethnocentric?

Answer 9

All the participants are from the West Midlands, meaning findings cannot be generalized to other cultures.

Question 10

How is the study androcentric?

Answer 10

The experimental group of offenders are solely male, lowering the validity, as it is not a true comparison.

Question 11

How is the study low in validity?

Answer 11

The questionnaires and checklists are self-report techniques, which is social desirability bias and demand characteristics.

Question 12

How is the study useful?

Answer 12

Has practical application, as it demonstrates that criminals have a lower level of morality, meaning that measures can be taken to combat criminality.

Question 13

Name all 4 evaluative points.

Answer 13

1. Ethnocentrism
2. Androcentric sample
3. Low Validity
4. Usefulness