Lifespan Development: Kohlberg's Theory Of Moral Development Flashcards
What 2 research methods did Kohlberg use to support his theory?
Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies
What happened during Kohlberg’s cross-sectional study?
He gave children of different age groups moral dilemmas, listening to their moral reasoning
Concluded that differences in moral reasoning are age related
What happened during Kohlberg’s longitudinal study?
He studied a group of boys (originally aged 10-16) over 20 years
Gave them moral dilemmas and asked for their moral reasoning
Concluded that moral reasoning progresses through a series of developmental stages that not all individuals finish.
There are __ levels of moral development, where each level has __ stages.
3 levels, 2 stages
True or false: individuals can’t go to a lower stage
True (unless for exceptional circumstances)
What are the three levels and the the six stages?
Pre-conventional level: Punishment and Obedience Orientation; Naively Egotistical Orientation
Conventional level: Good Girl/Nice Boy Orientation; Law-and-social-order-maintaining Orientation
Post-conventional Level: Legalistic-social-contract Orientation; Universal-ethical Orientation
Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development was proposed by ________ ___________, an American _____________, who focused on _______ ___________.
Lawrence Kohlberg, an American psychologist, who focused on moral development.
Name four limitations of Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development.
Moral reasoning doesn’t necessarily reflect moral behaviour
May not accurately describe the moral development of girls (data collected from boys; boys-problem solving, girls-relationships)
Underestimation of the moral development of children - limited language capacity of misunderstandings
Cultural factors: being cut off from society
Describe the pre-conventional level (0-9yrs)
A child’s choices are based primarily around the rules set by authority figures
Describe stage one (punishment and obedience orientation)
PHYSICAL CONSEQUENCES DETERMINE WHAT IS GOOD
Moral decisions and behaviour are based on consequences and punishment, not morality
Describe stage two (naively egotistical orientation)
WHAT SATISFIES ONE’S OWN NEEDS IS GOOD
Children think they’ll be rewarded or please others if they do the right thing, not based on morality but begin to show signs of moral behaviour and empathy
Describe the conventional level (9-15yrs)
They become considerate of the thoughts and feelings of others, have adopted moral values and seek to obey rules set by others.
Describe stage three (good girl/nice boy orientation)
WHAT PLEASES OR HELPS OTHERS IS GOOD
They obey the rules set by others for social acceptance and for a reputation of being “nice”
Describe stage four (law-and-social-order-maintaining orientation)
MAINTAINING SOCIAL ORDER OR DOING ONE’S DUTY IS GOOD
They conform to and unquestionably accept rules to maintain the social order and to avoid the guilt and shame of being criticised by authorities figures
Describe the post-conventional level (16+yrs)
The achievement of true morality which is guided by their conscience and does not necessarily match laws.
Less than 25% of adults reach this level
