kohlbergs levels of moral reasoning

Question 1

cognitive explanations

Answer 1

• levels of moral reasoning
• cognitive distortions

Question 2

moral reasoning theory

Answer 2

• thinking in a consistent and logical way about right and wrong, with reference to socially agreed principles
• interviewed men and boys about reasons for their moral decisions
• constructed a stage theory of moral development
• 3 levels, 2 stages in each

Question 3

pre-conventional morailty -LEVEL 1

Answer 3

stage 1: obedience and punishment behaviour, behaviour driven by avoiding punishment
stage 2: individual intrest, behaviour driven by self interest and rewards

Question 4

conventional morality - LEVEL 2

Answer 4

stage 3: interpersonal, behaviour driven by social approval
stage 4: authority, behaviour driven by obeying authority and conforming to social order

Question 5

post-conventional morality - LEVEL 3

Answer 5

stage 5: social contract, behaviour driven by balance of social order and individual rights
stage 6: universal ethics, behaviour driven by internal moral principles

Question 6

age of preconventional

Answer 6

3-7

Question 7

age of conventional

Answer 7

8-13

Question 8

postconventional

Answer 8

adulthood

Question 9

where are criminal offenders more likely to be classified

Answer 9

• pre-conventional level
• need to avoid punishment to gain reward, associated with less mature, childlike reasoning
• if they can get away with it or gain rewards in forms of money or increased respect

Question 10

age of criminal responsibility

Answer 10

criminals at pre-conventional levels believed that breaking the law is justified if the rewards outweigh the costs or if punishment can be avoided
- around age 10

Question 11

kohlbergs study

Answer 11

• conducted a longitudional study
• under 20% of children age 10 were at stage 1 and 60% were at stage 2
• fits idea of criminal responsibility
• as children under 10 cant be charged with a crime in england and wales

Question 12

snarey 1985

Answer 12

• meta analysis of 44 studies from 27 cultures
• stage 5 more prominent in western cultures than individualist cultures
• reflection of western individualism

Question 13

gudjonsson and sigurdsson

Answer 13

• using offending motivation questionaire to asses 128 male juvinile offenders
• found 38% did not consider the consequences of what they were doing
• 36% were confident they would be caught
• suggests they were at the pre-conventional level of moral reasoning
• supports relatiomship between moral reasoning and offedning behaviour