Kohlbergs theory Flashcards
Lawrence Koblberg
Studied how an individual makes judgements about moral issues
Moral dilemma
A situation that puts two opposing moral values against each other.
Levels of moral development
Preconventional level (no internalisation)
Conventional level (intermediate internalisation)
Postconventional (full internalisation)
Preconventional
Lowest level: child enters this stage at 9.
Show no internalisation of moral values
Behaviour influenced by outside factors.
Morals based on perceived consequences.
Stage1: obedience and punishment orientation
Stage 2: instrumental purpose orientation.
Preconventional: stage 1 obedience and punishment orientation.
Taught by adults to obey adults as they wish to avoid punishment.
Stage 2: instrumental purpose orientation
Morals based on rewards and self interest.
They only obey when they feel it’s in their best interests to do so.
The conventional level (intermediate internalisation)
Reached in adolescence.
Some degree of internalisation of moral value.
Child tries to conform to social rules.
Helps to determine if their actions are acceptable or unacceptable.
Stage3: good boy - good girl “ orientation.
Stage4: authority or law-and-order orientation
Conventional: Stage 3: good boy - good girl orientation.
Principles of trust care and loyalty to others to guide them when they making moral judgement.
Want to be though as a good girl or boy.
Want to impress authoritative figures.
Stage 4: Authority or law-and-order orientation
Morals based on social order, law, justice and duty.
Postcoventional ( full internalisation)
Morals completely internalised not based outside factors.
Stage 5: social contraction orientation
Stage 6: universal ethical principle orientation.
Stage 5: Social contract orientation
Sees values, standards and laws as relative variables.
Laws are important for society but knows that laws can and do change in keeping with change in societal thinking.
Law can be questioned or debated.
Freedom is more important than the law.
Individual rights weigh more than the rights of society.
Stage 6: Universal ethical principle orientation
Rely on own sense of right and wrong.
They have their own abstract moral codes.
Lives by “Golden Rule” do what you’d want people to do for you
Criticisms of Kohlberg Theory
Can’t predict what some one could do based off morals
Key criticisms
Intended behaviour doesn’t equate to actual behaviour.
