Lawrence Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development Flashcards
Describe Stage 1 - Obedience and Punishment
pre-moral or pre-conventional level
***avoid punishment stage
did research on prisoners
children assume that authorities in their lives lay down a set of rules that should be followed unquestionably
abiding by rules to avoid punishment
Describe Stage 2 - Individualism and Exchange
pre-moral or pre-conventional level
***what’s in it for me stage?
children realize that authorities rules are not the only right point of view
people want to pursue their life with their own self interest
punishment is a risk everyone wants to avoid
Describe Stage 3 - Good Interpersonal Relationships
conventional level
***roles or norms
emphasis on conformity
good boy/good girl
people believe you should live up to the values of family and community
you should have trust, empathy, and compassion for one another
Describe Stage 4 - Maintaining the Social Order
conventional level
people are concerned with society as a whole
want people to abide by rules and laws; but because they understand that if everyone did what they wanted, the world would be in total chaos
Describe Stage 5 - Social Contract and Individual Rights
post- conventional level
***social contract
people decide what a good society means to them (relativity of rules)
they compare human rights to the law
very theoretical about the way the world should be
Describe Stage 6 - Universal Principles
post-conventional level
***universal ethical principle association
believed very few people reach this stage
Who is Lawrence Kohlberg?
further developed Piaget’s work on cognitive development
used dilemma stories to examine how people reasoned with moral issues
researched the ways in which moral reasoning changed as people grew
Heinz Dilemma scenario
