Scribd
Upload
17 views

ethicsLesson 2

Uploaded by

Michelle B. Magmuyao
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
17 views

ethicsLesson 2

Uploaded by

Michelle B. Magmuyao
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 5

lOMoARcPSD|16853722

Lesson 6: Stages of Moral Development

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the discussion, the students are expected to:

 Identify the different stages of Moral Development as


stipulated by philosopher and psychologist Lawrence
Kohlberg.

Pre-discussion:

Watch a video presentation on Heinz’s dilemma. Engage with the class


on what you would do if you were Heinz. Explain your choice of action.

It’s time to learn!

CONTENT/DISCUSSION

Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stage of Moral Development


Adapted from General Psychology with Drug Education book by Virgie S. Otig, M.A. and Winston B.
Gallinero, M.A.

Lawrence Kohlberg was a 20th century developmental psychologist and moral


philosopher. When he was the director of Harvard’s Center for Moral
Education, Kohlberg’s research focused on the moral development of children
particularly on how they develop a sense of what is right or wrong, as well as
justice. He observed that children move through what he believed as de 昀 椀
nite stages of moral development.

Kohlberg’s Theory

Lawrence Kohlberg studied morality using a very interesting (if controversial)


technique. In his research, Kohlberg would ask children and adults to try solve
moral dilemmas in short stories and asked the participants to think out loud
so he could follow their reasoning. The reason for this was that Kohlberg was
not interested with the specific answers to the dilemmas- he wanted to know
how the person go to his or her answer.

His theory holds that moral reasoning, which is the basis for ethical behavior,
has identifiable developmental stages and each become more adequate at
lOMoARcPSD|16853722

responding to moral dilemmas as the person progresses from one stage to


the next. Kohlberg asserted that the process of moral development was
principally concerned with justice, and that the process goes on throughout
the individual’s lifetime.

After looking at hundreds of interviews using several stories, Kohlberg


outlined three broad levels and six specific stages of moral development.

Level I: Pre-conventional morality


Judgment at this level is solely focused on the self. This line of moral
reasoning is common among children although some adults would also
exhibit such behavior. The child, having no concept about society’s
conventions on what is right or wrong, would base its judgment mainly on the
external consequences of its actions.

Stage 1: Punishment-Obedience Orientation


This is also called the “pre-moral” stage where decisions and actions
are determined by immediate physical consequence and not the true
moral value. The overall goal at this stage is to avoid punishment. For
example, “I am going to study my lessons because mom will get mad
at me if I do not pass this test.”

Stage 2: Conventional Morality


As children grow older, they begin to see that there is actually room
for negotiation because other people have their own goals to meet
and wants that must be satisfied too. Children learn to behave in a
manner based on the principle “What’s in it for me?” for example, an
older child might reason: “If I GET GOOD GRADES MOM AND DAD
WILL BUY ME A NEW SMART
PHONE. So, I’m going to do my homework.”

Level II: Conventional Morality


This level of moral reasoning is typical of adolescent and adults. Conventional
morality is to reason in a conventional (something that is generally accepted)
manner. It is accepting the rules and standards of one’s group. This means
decisions ad the morality of his/her actions are based on society’s view and
expectations. The focus on this level is the “significant other” or what is also
called “Tyranny of the They” (They say this…. They say that… They say I
should...)

Stage 3: Good Boy/Good Girl Orientation


At this stage, the child tries to seek approval from other people by
living up to their expectations. He/ She also now understands the
concept of loyalty, trust, and gratitude as well as become interested in
lOMoARcPSD|16853722

motives and intensions behind a particular decisions or action. For


example, children understand and live by the Golden Rule.

Stage 4: Authority Orientation


By this time, individuals have reached adulthood and they usually
consider society as a whole when making judgements. The focus at
this stage is following the rules, maintaining law and order, doing
one’s duty, and respecting authority. For example, when someone
violates the law, it is morally wrong; culpability is therefore a
significant factor in this stage because it separates what is bad from
what is good.

Level lll: Post Conventional


This is also known as the ‘principle level’. It is marked by growing realization
that people are unique and are an independent part of the society. Therefore,
the individual’s own perspective is more significant over what the rest of the
society thinks and that this would sometimes lead to disobeying the law of
follow personal principles.

At this level, a person does not see rules and laws as absolute or beyond
question, but a changeable mechanism. Kohlberg asserted that post
conventional individuals view rules and laws to be important in maintaining
peace and order but it only serves as a guide that needs to be weighed
against personal principles and beliefs to uphold one’s human rights.

Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation


This stage means the individual is aware that much of what is
considered to be moral or good is mainly based on personal beliefs as
well as on the social group they belong to and that only a very few of
the known fundamental values are actually universal.

The person at this level understands that the world holds different
opinions, right, and values; thus different views should be mutually
respected. Laws are also regarded as a matter a social contract with
one’s fellow human beings in order to promote universal values and
that decisions are made for “the greater good for the most number of
people”. The best example for this level is the Democratic form of
government.

Stage 6: Ethical- Principle Orientation


At this point, social contract takes a clear back eat and the person
makes a personal commitment to uphold universal principles of equal
lOMoARcPSD|16853722

rights and respect. At this stage, an individual already has a principled


conscience; and will follow universal, ethical principles regardless of
what the laws or the raise say. Judgment here is based on abstract
reasoning such as being able to put oneself in other people’s shoes.
(Garz, Dtlef,2009:Munsey, B., 1980: Otig & Gallinero, 2015)

Question:

Where you are now in your moral development based on Kohlberg’s Stages of
Moral Development? Cite some situations to illustrate your answer.

You might also like