Kohlberg: Stages of moral development

Question 1

nurture vs nature debate

Answer 1

Kohlberg’s theory of moral development suggests that within each individual there is an innate predetermined sequence of stages which, whatever the situation in which the child is brought up in, will remain unchanging. (supports nature side).
However, the explanation doesn’t consider to any degree the influence that culture may have in influencing the child’s moral reasoning.

Question 2

psych as science

Answer 2

No - Lack of control over extraneous variables and his theory lacks validity and objectivity.
Yes - Falsifiable

Question 3

free will/determinism

Answer 3

Considered deterministic because the stages of moral development are invariant. There appears to be little free will or choice to how you progress through the stages.

Question 4

reductionist/holistic

Answer 4

took complex process of moral development and reduced it to biological maturation e.g. age