Kohlberg

Question 1

what is moral reasoning

Answer 1

it refers to the process by which an individual draws upon their own value system to determine whether an action is right or wrong

Kohlberg attempted to objective this process by identifying different levels or reasoning based on peoples answer tp moral dilemas

Question 2

what did Kohlberg propose

Answer 2

People decisions and judgments on issued right and wrong can be summarised in a stage theory of moral development - the higher the stage the more sophisticated the reasoning

Kohlberg based this theory on people’s responses to a series of moral dilemmas sich as the Heinz dilemma

Question 3

moral development and crinimality

Answer 3

many studies suggest that criminals tend to show a lower level of moral reasoning

Kohlberg et al used his moral dilemma technique and found that a group of violent youths were significantly lower on their moral development than that of non violent youths even after controlling for their social background

Question 4

Kohlberg’s model and criminality

Answer 4

Criminals are more likely to be classified at the pre-conventional level of Kohlberg’s model whereas not criminals generally progressed to the pre-conventional level and beyond

Question 5

how is the pre conventional levels characterised

Answer 5

the pre conventional levels are characterized by a need to avoid punishment and gain awards and is associated with less mature, childlike reasoning

Both adults and teenagers who reason at this level may commit crimes if they can get away wit it or gain rewards in the form of money e.t.c