Psychological Explanatons - Cognitive Theory (Kohlberg)

Question 1

Explain the Heinz dilemma

Answer 1

Heinz’s wife was dying from a particular type of cancer
Doctors said a new drug might save her
Drug developed by local chemist
Heinz tried to buy some but chemist was charging 10x the money it cost to make the drug = Heinz couldn’t afford
Heinz could only raise half the money even after hello from family and friends
He explained to the chemist that his wife eased dying and asked if he have the drug cheaper or pay the rest of the money later
The chemist refused saying he had discovered the drug and was going to make money from it
The husband was des[erate to save his wife so later that night he broke into the chemists and stole the drug

Question 2

Explain the findings of Kohlberg’s 1973 study

Answer 2

Found a group of violent youths were lower in their moral development than non-violent youths even after controlling for social background

Question 3

Explain the three levels of moral reasoning

Answer 3

1. Pre conventional
2. Conventional
3. Post conventional

People can only pass through these levels in the order listed
Each new stage replaces the reasoning typical of the stage earlier
Not everyone achieves all the stages

Question 4

Explain the preconventional stage

Answer 4

Stage 1 = punishment orientation (rules are obeyed to avoid punishment)
Stage 2 = Instrumental orientation (rules are obeyed for personal gain)

Question 5

Explain the conventional stage

Answer 5

Stage 3 = ‘Good boy or Good girl’ orientation (rules are obeyed for approval)
Stage 4 = Maintenance of the social order (rules are obeyed to maintain the social order)

Question 6

Explain the post conventional stage

Answer 6

Stage 5 = Morality of contract and individual rights (rules are obeyed if they are impartial; democratic rules are challenged if they infringe on the rights of others)
Stage 6 = Morality of conscience (the individual establishes his or her own rules in accordance with a personal set of ethical principles)

Question 7

Explain what Chandler (1973) supported from Kohlberg’s theory

Answer 7

Criminals are likley to be in stages 1-2 whereas non criminals are likley to be at stages 3 and above
Criminals = gain rewards, avoid punishment

Chandler found offenders are often more egocentric and display poorer social perspective talking skills than non offenders. Research shows individuals who reason at higher levels tend to sympathise more with the rights of others - conventional behaviour