Core Study 11- Kohlberg (D) Flashcards
Background
What was Freud’s psychoanalytic theory (briefly)?
Kohlberg’s theory is based of Freud’s
ID (devil), Ego, Superego (angel)
There is more than 1 dimension to morality- suggests both nature and nurture influences
Background
What was Skinner’s behaviourist theory?
Kohlberg’s theory was influenced by Skinner’s
External forces= nature approach (role models, operant conditioning)
Background
What was Piaget’s cognitive theory?
Kohlberg’s theory was influenced by Piaget’s
Morality is a staging and developing process
Background
What did Kohlberg’s systematic, three-level, six-stage sequence of development reflect?
The changes in moral judgement throughout lifespan
What three levels were the 6 stages of moral development categorised into?
- Preconventional level (before typical)
- Conventional level (typical)
- Postconventional level (beyond typical- normal)
What 6 stages were a part of Kohlberg’s 6 stage theory?
- Orientation towards punishment
- Orientation towards self-interest
- Good-boy-good-girl orientation
- Orientation towards authority
- Social contract orientation
- Orientation towards conscience and ethical principles
Aim
What was the general aim of Kohlberg’s research?
Associated with development in moral reasoning
To investigate the development in moral reasoning throughout adolescence and early childhood
Sample
How many American boys from USA, Chicago were used in the sample?
What age ranges were they between?
75
10-16
Sample
What countries were the other boys that were also studied as a comparison from?
- UK
- Canada
- Mexico
- Taiwan
- Turkey
What was Kohlberg focusing on in all boys in the sample?
Their moral development stages
What was the design of the study?
How can this be proved?
Longitudinal study
The American boys were followed at 3 year intervals for 12 years through to age 22-28
What was the design for the Taiwenese boys that were used as a comparison?
This differed from the American boys
Cross-sectional
Procedure
What were all participants given?
Hypothetical moral dilemmas in short story form every 3 years (for 13 years)
These determined stage of moral reasoning
Procedure
What question were age 10 American boys asked after reading the short stories?
“Is it better to save an important person’s life or lots of unimportant people’s lives?”
Procedure?
What question were American boys aged 13-24 asked after reading the short stories?
“Should the doctor ‘mercy kill’ a fatally ill woman requesting death because of her pain?”
Procedure
Explain why the Taiwanese boys were given dilemmas with different motives than the Americans.
Taiwanese culture does not allow for picking between life or death.
Procedure
What motive were the age 10-13 Taiwanese boys given?
What was theirs about?
Theft of food rather than the value of human life (like the Americans’ was)
Procedure
What moral question were the Taiwanese boys asked after reading the hypothetical dilemmas?
“A man’s wife is starving to deaath, but the store won’t give him food unless he pays, which he can’t. Should be break in and steal? Why?”
Results
How did the boys progress through the stages?
They progressed as they got older
Some did not reach final stage by the end of study
Results
What order did the boys pass through these stages?
Stages always passed through stage by stage in the fixed order (1-6)
Participants never went back to a previous stage
Results
At age 16, what was found about the level of moral development that the boys were at? How did it differ between the USA and other countries?
Stage 5 thinking was more prevalent in the USA at age 16 than Mexico or Taiwan.
It was reached by these participants at a later age
Conclusions
Do the findings agree or disagree with Kohlberg’s 6 stage theory?
Agree
Conclusions
How did the boys’ progression demonstrate that moral development is invariant (never changing)?
Showed that individuals pass through stages one at a time and they’re in a fixed order
Some individuals may not reach final stage
Conclusions
What is the relationship/ link between speed of development and culture?
Speed of development may be affected by the culture/ society you surround yourself with
