Developmental area (Kohlberg) Flashcards
background
looked at behaviourist perspective which would say that people learn morals through their parents
psychodynamic perspective explains morals as a result of the superego
aim
aimed to investigate how children move through different stages of moral development as they get older and to see if there are any cultural differences
sample
75 american boys for 12 years
between 10-16 years old
procedure
Every boy was presented with hypothetical moral dilemmas (like the ones we’ve had a go at) every 3 years during the 12 year period.
Using the answers the boys gave, Kohlberg ranked them in six categories (1 being the least morally developed to 6 – most morally developed)
This formed his theory of stages of moral development.
Kohlberg’s stages of moral development
Kohlberg said that as people grow up their moral thinking develops in stages.
As they continue through these stages their moral thinking grows more sophisticated over time.
pre conventional level
People (usually children) are well behaved but only because of the physical consequences to them of being good or bad. If there is no-one there to judge them, they are likely to be naughty.
conventional level
people conform to the social norms and expectations of their family, social group or nation. Rules must be followed.
post conventional level
people set their own personal moral principles which may differ from those of their social group.
what other countries did he test his dilemmas in
taiwan
great britain
turkey
malaysia
canada
mexico
conclusions
People’s moral development follows an invariant developmental sequence
This means everyone, regardless of culture, social background or religion moves through the same 6 stages in the same order.
They never skip a stage or move backwards through the stages (although not everyone reaches the last stage).
