Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning
- Created by: hollydavies2
- Created on: 25-04-17 17:07
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- Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning - A cognitive explanation of offending behaviour
- Is a stage theory of moral development which some individuals don't progress past certain levels. Kohlberg claims criminals have lower moral reasoning.
- Supporting Evidence
- Kohlberg et al - using his moral dilemma technique - found that a group of violent you were significantly lower in development than non-violent.
- Criminals likely to be characterised as in the pre-conventional stage- the need to avoid punishment and gain rewards.
- Chandler- supports assumption, as the findings suggest offenders are more egocentric ans display poorer social perspective taking skills.
- Palmer and Hollin compared moral reasoning between offenders and non-offenders- found offenders showed less mature moral reasoning. Supports the theory.
- Kohlberg et al - using his moral dilemma technique - found that a group of violent you were significantly lower in development than non-violent.
- Evaluation
- Application Understanding how low moral reasoning is associated with offending- useful in treatment programmes. e.g. finding ways to increase level of moral reasoning while treating so decrease re-offending.
- Supporting Evidence
- Kohlberg et al - using his moral dilemma technique - found that a group of violent you were significantly lower in development than non-violent.
- Criminals likely to be characterised as in the pre-conventional stage- the need to avoid punishment and gain rewards.
- Chandler- supports assumption, as the findings suggest offenders are more egocentric ans display poorer social perspective taking skills.
- Palmer and Hollin compared moral reasoning between offenders and non-offenders- found offenders showed less mature moral reasoning. Supports the theory.
- Kohlberg et al - using his moral dilemma technique - found that a group of violent you were significantly lower in development than non-violent.
- Individual Differences. Moral reasoning can account for individual differences in offending, it explains why some commit and others do not - usefulness of the theory. But there is such a wide variety of crimes- unlike moral reasoning is same for all.
- Criticism of the theory. possible that low moral reasoning is a result of criminal behaviour and not the cause. this lowers the support for the theory as cause and effect can't be established.
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