Kohlberg's Moral development theory

Question 1

What does Kohlberg’s theory claim?

Answer 1

our development of moral reasonings happens in six stages

Question 2

What are the stages structured into?

Answer 2

pre-conventional, conventional and post-conventional

Question 3

What is stage 1?

Answer 3

Moral judgement: Obedience and Punishment

Question 4

What is stage 2?

Answer 4

motivated by Self Interest

Question 5

What is stage 3?

Answer 5

Interpersonal Accord and Conformity guide a moral judegment

Question 6

What is stage 4?

Answer 6

value Authority and Maintaining Social Order, uphold the rules that sustain a functioning society

Question 7

What is stage 5?

Answer 7

rules are a Social Contract

Question 8

What is stage 6?

Answer 8

guided by Universal Ethical principles

Question 9

What is the pre-conventional level?

Answer 9

common reasoning by children, both judge what is right and wrong by the direct consequences that they expect for themselves and not by social norms

Question 10

What is the conventional level?

Answer 10

morality is centered around what society thinks is right, common in adolescent and adulthood

Question 11

What is the post-conventional?

Answer 11

individuals may disobey rules inconsistent with their own morality, universal ethical idea at complete disconnect to what society thinks or the rules say

Question 12

Who did Kohlberg interview?

Answer 12

10-16 year old boys

Question 13

What did he analyse?

Answer 13

how they would justify their decision when confronted with different hypothetical moral dilemmas

Question 14

What are the strengths of this study?

Answer 14

Thornton and Reid found the theory to be truer for crimes like theft and robbery compared to crimes of violence, Some studies show delinquents are more likely to have immature moral development, pre-conventional