Core Study 11- Kohlberg (D)

Question 1

Background

What was Freud’s psychoanalytic theory (briefly)?

Kohlberg’s theory is based of Freud’s

ID (devil), Ego, Superego (angel)

Answer 1

There is more than 1 dimension to morality- suggests both nature and nurture influences

Question 2

Background

What was Skinner’s behaviourist theory?

Kohlberg’s theory was influenced by Skinner’s

Answer 2

External forces= nature approach (role models, operant conditioning)

Question 3

Background

What was Piaget’s cognitive theory?

Kohlberg’s theory was influenced by Piaget’s

Answer 3

Morality is a staging and developing process

Question 4

Background

What did Kohlberg’s systematic, three-level, six-stage sequence of development reflect?

Answer 4

The changes in moral judgement throughout lifespan

Question 5

What three levels were the 6 stages of moral development categorised into?

Answer 5

• Preconventional level (before typical)
• Conventional level (typical)
• Postconventional level (beyond typical- normal)

Question 6

What 6 stages were a part of Kohlberg’s 6 stage theory?

Answer 6

1. Orientation towards punishment
2. Orientation towards self-interest
3. Good-boy-good-girl orientation
4. Orientation towards authority
5. Social contract orientation
6. Orientation towards conscience and ethical principles

Question 7

Aim

What was the general aim of Kohlberg’s research?

Associated with development in moral reasoning

Answer 7

To investigate the development in moral reasoning throughout adolescence and early childhood

Question 8

Sample

How many American boys from USA, Chicago were used in the sample?

What age ranges were they between?

Answer 8

75

10-16

Question 9

Sample

What countries were the other boys that were also studied as a comparison from?

Answer 9

• UK
• Canada
• Mexico
• Taiwan
• Turkey

Question 10

What was Kohlberg focusing on in all boys in the sample?

Answer 10

Their moral development stages

Question 11

What was the design of the study?

How can this be proved?

Answer 11

Longitudinal study

The American boys were followed at 3 year intervals for 12 years through to age 22-28

Question 12

What was the design for the Taiwenese boys that were used as a comparison?

This differed from the American boys

Answer 12

Cross-sectional

Question 13

Procedure

What were all participants given?

Answer 13

Hypothetical moral dilemmas in short story form every 3 years (for 13 years)

These determined stage of moral reasoning

Question 14

Procedure

What question were age 10 American boys asked after reading the short stories?

Answer 14

“Is it better to save an important person’s life or lots of unimportant people’s lives?”

Question 15

Procedure?

What question were American boys aged 13-24 asked after reading the short stories?

Answer 15

“Should the doctor ‘mercy kill’ a fatally ill woman requesting death because of her pain?”

Question 16

Procedure

Explain why the Taiwanese boys were given dilemmas with different motives than the Americans.

Answer 16

Taiwanese culture does not allow for picking between life or death.

Question 17

Procedure

What motive were the age 10-13 Taiwanese boys given?

What was theirs about?

Answer 17

Theft of food rather than the value of human life (like the Americans’ was)

Question 18

Procedure

What moral question were the Taiwanese boys asked after reading the hypothetical dilemmas?

Answer 18

“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?”

Question 19

Results

How did the boys progress through the stages?

Answer 19

They progressed as they got older

Some did not reach final stage by the end of study

Question 20

Results

What order did the boys pass through these stages?

Answer 20

Stages always passed through stage by stage in the fixed order (1-6)

Participants never went back to a previous stage

Question 21

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?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Conclusions

Do the findings agree or disagree with Kohlberg’s 6 stage theory?

Answer 22

Agree

Question 23

Conclusions

How did the boys’ progression demonstrate that moral development is invariant (never changing)?

Answer 23

Showed that individuals pass through stages one at a time and they’re in a fixed order
Some individuals may not reach final stage

Question 24

Conclusions

What is the relationship/ link between speed of development and culture?

Answer 24

Speed of development may be affected by the culture/ society you surround yourself with

Question 25

What did Kohlberg conclude about the order of stages?

Consider this in terms of various countries

Answer 25

Order of stages is universal across all countries- they are always in this fixed order