THE STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT BY LAWRENCE KOHLBERG Flashcards
Moral development focuses on the
emergence, change, and understanding of morality from infancy through adulthood.
Moral development is the ____of an individuals concept of right or wrong conscious, religious values, social attitudes and certain behavior.
gradual development
This theory is a stage theory. In other words, everyone goes through the stages sequentially without skipping any stage.
KOHLBERG’s THEORY
movement occurs when
a person notices inadequacies in his or her present way of coping with a given moral dilemma.
stage development
PRE- CONVENTIONAL
Stage 1: PUNISHMENT AND OBIDIENCE
Stage 2: INDIVIDUAL AND INSTRUMENTAL
EXCHANGE
COVENTIONAL
Stage 3: MUTUAL AND INTERPERSONAL
CONFORMITY
Stage 4: LAW AND ORDER
POST-CONVENTIONAL
Stage 5: SOCIAL CONTRACT AND INDIVDUAL
RIGHTS
Stage 6: UNIVERSAL ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
Ages 0-9
They obey rules to avoid punishment or reap rewards, or they act out of self-interest.
PRE- CONVENTIONAL
- Children obey rules to avoid punishment.
- Children see rules as fixed and absolute
- Determines a sense of right and wrong by what is punished and what is not punished
- Obeys superior authority and allows that
authority to make the rules, especially if that authority has the power to inflict pain - Is responsive to rules that will affect his/her physical well-being
Stage 1: Punishment/obedience orientation
- Children conform to rules out self-interest and consideration for what others can do for them
- Reciprocity is possible, but only if it serves one’s own interests
- Is motivated by vengeance or “an eye for an eye” philosophy
- Is self-absorbed while assuming that he/she is generous
- Believes in equal sharing in that everyone gets the same, regardless of need
- Believes that the end justifies the means
- Will do a favor only to get a favor
- Expects to be rewarded for every non-selfish deed he/she does.
Stage 2: Instrumental purpose and exchange
Not all good doing is rewarded
Not all bad doing is punished
Dilemma in pre-conventional
Ages 10-15 or beyond
Concerned about being “good”, pleasing
others, and maintaining the social order.
Conventional
- Children want to please and help others, can judge the intentions of others, and develop their own ideas of what a good person is.
- There is an emphasis on conformity, being “nice,”and consideration of how choices influence relationships
- Finds peer approval very important
- Feels that intentions are as important as deeds and expects others to accept intentions or promises in place of deeds
- Begins to put himself/herself in another’s shoes and think from another perspective
Stage 3: Good Boy/Girl Orientation
- People are concerned with doing their duty, showing respect for higher authority, and maintaining the social order. They consider an act always wrong, regardless of motive or circumstances, if it violates a rule and harms others.
- Is a duty doer who believes in rigid rules that should not be changed
- Respects authority and obeys it without question* Supports the rights of the majority without concern for those in the minority
- Is part of about 80% of the population that does not progress past stage 4
Stages 4: Law and Order Orientation
Not all doing that is pleasing to others is always correct.
The are instances you’ve done disappointing to others however that is the best decision.
Not all Law is perfect/ Not all in the authority is right
Dilemma in conventional
Early adolescence, or not until young adulthood 16+
People recognize conflicts between moral standards and make their own judgments on the basis of principles of right, fairness, and justice.
POST-CONVENTIONAL
- People think in rational terms, valuing the will of the majority and the welfare of society; “greatest good for the greatest number”.
- Rules of law are important for maintaining a society, but members of the society should agree upon these standards
- Believes in consensus (everyone agrees), rather than in majority rule
- Respects the rights of the minority especially the rights of the individual
- Believes that change in the law is possible but only through the system
Stage 5: Social Contract (Human Right)
- People do what they as individuals think is right,regardless of legal restrictions or the opinions of others.
Stage 6: Universal and Ethical Principles
Not all doings is acceptable but it benefit many.
We are guided by ABSTRACT principles such as rights, fairness, justice, equality etc…
Dilemma in post-conventional
an agent who acts on what she/he has understood, using her/his full rationality, to be what is right, regardless of whether the act will bring the agent pleasure or pain and even regardless of whether the act is in accordance with one’s community’s laws or not.
MORAL MATURITY
