Development of Moral Reasoning

Question 1

Why is moral development important? (2)

Answer 1

It prevents people from acting on unchecked urges

It makes people consider what is right for society and those around them

Question 2

What is moral behavior influenced by? (2)

Answer 2

Our own moral reasoning of what is right and wrong

Moral affect - what we feel in response to the situation

Question 3

Describe children’s moral reasoning

Answer 3

A child wants to give her mother a nice surprise, but accidentally cut a big hole in her dress

Another child wanted to play with the scissors and accidentally cut a small hole in her dress

Typically, younger children would think the first child is the “naughtiest” as the hole she made is bigger. This is because they tend to judge the severity of the consequence, not the motives.

Question 4

How did Piaget investigate the development of moral reasoning?

Answer 4

Clinical interviews - stories about children doing something inappropriate

Asking the participants if the children should be punished and why

Question 5

How did Kohlberg investigate moral reasoning?

Answer 5

Using moral dilemmas - situations involving conflicting values: What should the main character do and why?

Question 6

What are Kohlberg’s 3 levels of moral reasoning?

Answer 6

1. Pre-conventional morality
2. Conventional morality
3. Post conventional morality

Question 7

What are Kohlberg’s 6 stages of moral reasoning? (within the 3 levels) (PI-GL-SU)

Answer 7

1. Punishment-obedience orientation
2. Instrumental relativist orientation
3. Good-boy-nice-girl orientation
4. Law and order orientation
5. Social contract orientation
6. Universal ethical principle orientation

Question 8

Name and describe Kohlberg’s 1st stage of moral reasoning

Answer 8

Punishment-obedience orientation

Children see rules as fixed and absolute. Obeying the rules is important as it is a means to avoid punishment

Question 9

Name and describe Kohlberg’s 2nd stage of moral reasoning

Answer 9

Instrumental relativist orientation

Rules are followed because they benefit the individual, hence they are obeyed because one receives rewards

Question 10

Name and describe Kohlberg’s 3rd stage of moral reasoning

Answer 10

Good-boy-nice-girl orientation

Children are focused on living up to social expectations and roles. There is an emphasis on conformity, being nice, and on consideration of how choices influence relationships

Question 11

Name and describe Kohlberg’s 4th stage of moral reasoning

Answer 11

Law and order orientation

People begin to consider society as a whole when making judgements. The focus is on maintaining law and order by following rules, doing one’s duty, and respecting authority

Question 12

Name and describe Kohlberg’s 5th stage of moral reasoning

Answer 12

Social contract orientation

The laws of society are seen an instrument for ensuring respect of people’s right. A law may be unfair and need to be changed to ensure justice.

Question 13

Name and describe Kohlberg’s 6th stage of moral reasoning

Answer 13

Universal ethical principle orientation

The morality of an action is judged according to universal ethical principles. Hence, laws that violate such principles are disobeyed. Judgement is according to one’s individual conscience

Question 14

What is 1 advantage and 1 disadvantage of Kohlberg’s position?

Answer 14

His stages are universally valid across societies and based on equality and reciprocity

The sequence of his stages is invariable - someone progressing to a higher stage of moral reasoning cannot skip stages

Question 15

What is are the 2 main criticisms of Kohlberg’s theory?

Answer 15

it is initially based on empirical research using only white male participants

it emphasizes individual right to the exclusion of other values

Question 16

Describe Gilligan’s alternative theory of moral reasoning (2)

Answer 16

based on the ethics of caring and avoiding harm to others

a person transitions from selfishness, to the responsibility to others, then to the responsibility to themselves

Question 17

Describe Gilligan’s stages of the Ethic of Care (3)

Answer 17

1. Pre-conventional: goal is individual survival
2. Conventional: self sacrifice is goodness
3. Post-conventional: do not hurt others or self

Question 18

What is the main difference between Kohlberg’s and Gilligan’s theories?

Answer 18

Kohlberg’s theory rested on the assumption that the justice perspective was the right/better perspective

Gilligan’s theory states that neither perspective is better, but that the 2 norms of justice serve different purposes