Week 2 Flashcards
What is Moral Development?
Gradual development of an individual’s concept of right or wrong - conscious, religious values, social attitudes and certain behaviours
Outline Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development?
6 stage theory
o Says everybody goes through these stages sequentially.
o People don’t move through the stages automatically. Movement
occurs when one notices inadequacies in present ways of coping
with moral dilemma.
o States that cannot understand moral reasoning more than one
step ahead of their current stage
What are the 6 Stages of Kohlberg’s Theory?
Pre-conventional Moral Development 0-9 Years
Stage 1 – Obedience and Punishment
Stage 2 – Naively Egotistical
Conventional Moral Development 10-15 Years
Stage 3 – “Good boy-good girl” Orientation
Stage 4 – Law and Social Order
Post-Conventional Moral Development 16+ Years
Stage 5 – Legalistic Social Contract
Stage 6 – Universal Ethical Principles
Explain Pre-conventional Moral Development 0-9 Years?
(Level 1)
Stage 1 – Obedience and Punishment
o Right and wrong decided by what is punished or not.
o Obeys authority figure who has power to inflict pain.
Stage 2 – Naively Egotistical
o Judge actions based on how it will serve them.
o Will do favour to get a favour.
o Expects reward for any unselfish action
Explain Conventional Moral Development (10-15 Years)? (Level 2)
Stage 3 – “Good boy-good girl” Orientation
o Based on social expectations
o Peer approval is important.
o Thinks intentions are as good as deeds
o Begins to think from others perspectives
Stage 4 – Law and Social Order
o Begin to consider society as a whole
o Feels rules are rigid and should be obeyed
o Supports the majority w/out concern for those in minority
o 80% of population don’t go beyond
Explain Post-Conventional Moral Development 16+ Years? (Level 3)
Stage 5 – Legalistic Social Contract
o Account for differing values, opinions, and beliefs
o Rules of law are important but should be decided by society
o Believes in consensus rather than majority rules
Stage 6 – Universal Ethical Principles
o Follow internalized principles of justice, even if conflict with
laws/rules
o Believes in higher moral principles than those set by
laws/rules
o Willing to accept responsibility for rule breaking
o Human dignity is sacred. All humans have value.
Give a Summary of Kohlberg’s Principle Stage 1
At stage 1 children think of what is right as that which authority says is right. Doing the right thing is obeying authority and avoiding punishment.
Give a Summary of Kohlberg’s Principle Stage 2
At stage 2, children are no longer so impressed by any single authority; they see that there are different sides to any issue. Since everything is relative, one is free to pursue one’s own interests, although it is often useful to make deals and exchange favors with others.
Give a Summary of Kohlberg’s Principle Stages 3 & 4
At stages 3 and 4, young people think as members of the conventional society with its values, norms, and expectations. At stage 3, they emphasize being a good person, which basically means having helpful motives toward people close to one At stage 4, the concern shifts toward obeying laws to maintain society as a whole.
Give a Summary of Kohlberg’s Principle Stages 5 & 6
At stages 5 and 6 people are less concerned with maintaining society for its own sake, and more concerned with the principles and values that make for a good society. At stage 5 they emphasize basic rights and the democratic processes that give everyone a say, and at stage 6 they define the principles by which agreement will be most just.
Criticisms of Kohlberg’s Theory?
o Does knowing what should be done mean it will
o Overemphasizes justice aspect of moral decisions. Ignores
caring, compassion etc.
o Is it a westernised view? Would eastern (eg. Communist) cultures
be different
Gilligan’s Theory?
o Shifts focus from ways people reason about hypothetical
dilemmas
o Concentrates more on ways people construct moral conflicts and
choice in their lives.
o See what experiences people define in moral terms.
o Explores the relationship between understanding moral
problems and reasoning strategies used and actions taken to
attempt solving them
What are the 3 stages of Gilligan’s Theory of Moral Development?
Level 1: Complete concern for Self (Individual Survival)
Transitional- From self-care to care and concern for others
Level 2: Primary interest in care of others (To gain acceptance) (Self Sacrifice/social conformity)
Transitional- Awareness of self, relative to developing
relationships with others: (responsibility towards their care and
needs.)
Level 3: Non-Violence and universal caring –
Focuses on consequences of choice. Criterion of adequacy or moral principles changes from objective truth to ‘best fit’ as each case has it’s own context and is it’s own dilemma.
4 Good Points of Gilligan’s Theory?
o Concentrates on care giving and nurturing
o Responsibility
o Empathy
o Effect on environment
Criticisms of Gilligan’s Theory?
o Anecdotal Evidence - Lacking longitudinal, cross-sectional,
experimental evidence
o No explanation why men and women develop different
orientations to moral judgement
o Possible Rosenthal effect – Fear that the experimenters’
preferences may have carried the data rather than the other
ways round
Making Ethical Decisions?
o Requires sensitivity to ethical issues and a practiced
method for exploring the ethical aspect of the decision.
o Having a method for ethical decision making is essential
o Based on ethical principles and codes
- not emotions, thoughts, fixed policies
What is an Ethical Dilemma?
Situation with uncertainty about what is right to do from a moral or ethical perspective.
What are steps of 5 Step Model?
5 Step Model:
- Gather all pertinent Information
- Ethical Maxim – E.G Utilitarianism or Deontology
- Time
- Special Extenuating Circumstances
- Render Judgment
Stages of 9 Step Decision Making Process?
9 Step Decision Making Process:
- Describe the problem
- Determine whether there is an ethical issue/dilemma?
- Identify and rank key values and principles
- Gather info
- Review applicable code of ethics
- Determine the options
- Select course of action
- Put plan into action
- Evaluate results
