Kohlberg - moral development

?
Who/what did Kohlberg base his theory on?
Piaget's theory of moral development -> Children start with a rigid view of the world and what is right/wrong (heteronomous stage of moral reasoning) Around 8 years old, they begin to understand morality is fluid from experiencing social situations.
1 of 17
What did he believe about the stages of moral development?
They were universal & static - but people go through the stages at different speeds. Some people (criminals) may not reach the final stages
2 of 17
What was Kohlberg's aim?
To show how his research supports his theory of moral development. (He was actually the first to have empirical evidence that supports his theory)
3 of 17
Who were his participants?
Main study: 75 American boys over 12 years - start age: 10-16 & end age: 22-28. Also boys from Malaysia, Taiwan & Mexico
4 of 17
Outline Kohlberg's procedure
Every 3 years, the boy would be given a set of moral dilemmas. (stage 1 were asked to save the life of 1 over 100, other stages were asked about euthanasia). Answers & reasoning = linked to 25 basic moral concepts
5 of 17
What was the first level of development? what stages are in it?
Pre-conventional level - approximately 4-10 years old. Stage 1 - child will behave to avoid punishment but can be immoral when authority is absent. Stage 2 - child will only do things for their benefit
6 of 17
What was the second level of development? Describe the stages
Conventional level. Stage 3 - child seeks other's approval and considers intentions behind acts. Stage 4 - child sees laws as set in stone & must be obeyed by all to keep social order
7 of 17
What was the third/final level of development? Describe the stages
Post-conventional. Stage 5 - law & morality are different, what is 'right' is based on law AND personal opinion. Stage 6 - Judgement is based on the universal human rights of all - everyone has value.
8 of 17
What was the child's thinking in stage 1?
Tommy aged 10 confused the value of life with the value of material property a person owns
9 of 17
What was the child's thinking in stage 2?
Tommy aged 13 partly based the value of the woman's life on the value to herself, but mainly to her husband as he couldn't replace her as easily as a pet
10 of 17
What was the child's thinking in stage 3?
Tommy aged 16 highlighted the human empathy for her husband, but lacked a universal value for human life - the woman was given more value as she had people who loved her
11 of 17
What was the boy's thinking in stage 4?
Richard aged 16 acknowledged that all human life has universal value, but life is sacred in terms of its place in a moral/religious order. It's not to us to play God
12 of 17
What was the boy's thinking in stage 5?
Richard aged 20 defined the value of human life in terms of equal/universal human rights in context of relativity (we are all the centre of our own world)
13 of 17
What was the boy's thinking in stage 6?
Richard aged 24 saw the value of human life as absolute - human life is centrally valuable, rather than derived from social/divine authority.
14 of 17
What did Kohlberg find in other cultures?
Stage 5 was more common in American teens that Mexican/Taiwanese. The speed at which children moved through stages = affected by social class; middle class having the quickest development. All members of religions went through the same stages.
15 of 17
What did Kohlberg conclude?
Moral development occurs in the same sequence, regardless of where you grow up. The nature of the sequence isn't affected by social/cultural/religions conditions. Moral thought develops like all other thought- each stage is better than the one before
16 of 17
What's the discussion behind his findings/conclusions?
There's a cross-cultural universality to the development of morals. Kids will use previous knowledge at each stage to inform the present, and can accept/understand arguments for only one stage above their own (eg stage 2 gets stage 3, but not 4)
17 of 17

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

What did he believe about the stages of moral development?

Back

They were universal & static - but people go through the stages at different speeds. Some people (criminals) may not reach the final stages

Card 3

Front

What was Kohlberg's aim?

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Who were his participants?

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Outline Kohlberg's procedure

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Psychology resources:

See all Psychology resources »See all Kohlberg theory of moral understanding resources »