Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

  • Kohlberg’s initial study included 72 boys ages 10, 13, and 16.
  • Data was collected through taped interviews in which 10 moral dilemmas were presented to each boy­ select 1 of 2 actions o Questioned reasons for choice
    • No Right/Wrong answer­ individual scored according to mode of reasoning
  • Concerned not with moral behavior but with moral judgments and process of thought by which individual made his judgment
  • Levels:
    • Level 1­ Pre­conventional Reasoning­ children using definitions of good/bad provided by parental authority figures
      • No internalization of morality
      • Follow other people’s rules
      • Stage 1­ Punishment and obedience orientation­ moral thinking tied to punishment

Motivation­ avoid punishment

  • Stage 2­ Instrumental­exchange orientation­ Trade off to get what you want

Motivation­ satisfy one’s self and gains rewards from others

  • Level 2: Conventional Reasoning­ conformity to social conventions based on desire to maintain social order
    • Stage 3: “Good child” orientation­ maintaining good relations and approval of others

Motivation­ avoid disapproval of others

  • Stage 4: Law and Order orientation­ judgments based on understanding social order, law, justice, duty

Motivation­ maintain law/order, concern for community

  • Level 3: Post­conventional Reasoning­ self­accepted moral principles
    • Stage 5: Social Contract orientation­ individual defines morality in terms of general principles and human rights. Still bound by laws of given culture

Motivation­ to gain respect of individual/community

  • Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles orientation­ that all

culturally universal religions or moral authorities might view as right. Not bound by laws of society

Motivation­ to avoid self­condemnation for lapses in moral judgment

  • Critiques of Kohlberg o Problems with sorting individuals into categories
    • Difficult of determining at what stage an individual is
    • Need them to be more concrete o Regression to earlier stages
    • Should not backslide
    • Theory seen as developmental o Motivation
    • May not be true/fair to say higher levels have greater levels of morality o No evaluation of levels of moral judgment can be used to predict moral behavior
    • Not a good connection between reasoning/behavior
    • Know right thing to do, but do not do the right thing o Gender­ original research only tested boys
    • More women in stage 3, More males in stage 4­ suggests males are more morally developed
  • Carol Gilligan:
    • Justice perspective­ places a premium on abstract principles of justice, equality, fairness

 More rule based

  • Care perspective­ emphasizes responsibility of human beings rather than to abstract principles

 Women are more pragmatic

  • Socialization differences­ women are more rewarded for concern for others. Boys concerned with standing up to principles
  • Richard Schweder’s Critique:
    • Culture Critique­ biased in favor of individual thinking of Western elitism

(higher social class/ levels of edu)

 Other cultures not reflected in Kohlberg’s theory

Ethic of Autonomy­ individual is primary moral authority

  • Do whatever but do not hurt others

Ethic of Community­ individual members of social groups to which they have commitments/ responsibilities

  • Eastern societies

Ethic of Divinity­ individual is spiritual entity

  • subject to rules of divine authority­ religion
  • What does God want you to do

 Temperament ­ Individual’s behavioral style and characteristic way of emotionally responding.

Personality you are born with

  • 3 main types identified by Chess and Thomas o Easy Temperament­ predictable
    • Regular schedules for feeding, sleeping, changing
    • Readily accept new situations­ easy going
    • Mild reactioin if upset­ good at soothing themselves
    • Tips for Parents­ Still need you even if not crying/demanding attention

o Slow to Warm Up Temperament­ less predictable

  • Cycles less coordinated
  • Wary of new situations
  • Tips for parents­ patience. Introduce new things slowly o Difficult Temperament­ unpredictable
  • Do not sleep through the night, hungry and need changing at random times
  • Scared­ bad reaction to something new
  • Difficult to sooth
  • Tips for Parents­ not your fault

 Patience­ negative aspects will fade out ~ 1 ½ yr

 Easy to get frustrated­walk away, deep breath

 Erikson’s Psychosocial Theory ­ 1st true Life Span Theorist

  • Basic Trust VS Mistrust­ first year of life o Most important
    • Consistency, predictability , reliability in caretaker’s actions
    • Good parents= world is a good place o Bas parents= cannot trust anyone/anything o Mistrust gives sense that world has bad aspects
  • Autonomy VS Shame and Doubt­ 1­3 years o Trying to exercise sense of autonomy/control o Making their own decisions. Being independent o Allow mistakes­ gain competency
  • Initiative VS Guilt­ preschool years o Child makes plans, sets goals, preservers when attaining them o Let them fail = self­sufficient
  • Industry VS inferiority­ elementary school years o Learning the useful skills/tools of wider culture
    • Find something they do well­ gives them strength
  • Identity VS Identity Confusion­ adolescence
    • Establish ego identity­ who one is, one’s place in larger social order o Can change later, form basic sense
  • Intimacy VS Isolation­ early adulthood years o Establish/Maintain at least 1 intimate/romantic relationship o Need to know who you are
  • Generativity VS Stagnation­ adulthood
    • Creation of children/production of things and ideas through work
    • Create something that passes on and helps next generation
  • Integrity VS Despair­ Old Age o Life review­ accomplishments/regrets o Ego Integrity/ Ego Despair

 Dying and Grieving

  • We are the only animals that know we are going to die someday­ changes the way we view life Fear of dying is seldom a primary concern for older adults
  • Elderly do not have major fears associated with death o Pain
    • Hospitalization o Leaving others behind
  • Relatives have own fears of dying­ pull away when needed most
  • Stages of Dying: Elisabeth Kubler­Ross o Denial­ do not accept death
    • Want another opinion
    • Cannot be happening to them o Anger­ “why me”
  • Bargaining­ try anything to live longer
    • Want to stay in the life they know o Depression­ not make any deals
    • Scared of dying­ withdraw o Acceptance
  • US have greater problem coping with death than do other cultures Criticisms:
    • Small sample­ 200 and most were from western societies o Cancer patients
  • Stages of Grieving o Numbness­ feelings of numbness, emptiness, denial of death
    • Disconnection from reality o Yearning and Searching­ intense longing for the loved one
    • Guilt, anger, resentment
    • Ghosting is common o Disorganization, Anger and Despair­ life seems to lose meaning
    • Disruption of normal activities
    • Mourn loss of life you would have had with that person o Reorganization/Integration­ acceptance of loss

Reorganize new roles in life