2. LEARNING OUTCOMES
• We will able to
understand the stages of
moral development.
• We will able to analyze a
person’s level of moral
reasoning based on his
responses to moral
dilemmas.
3. Words to remember:
• Moral
is a lesson that is learn from something.
• Dilemma
is a situation that requires a choice
between two equal alternatives.
4. Words to remember:
• Moral dilemma
can therefore be defined as a situation that
will often involve an apparent mental conflict in which
each in possible course of action will breach some binding
moral principle.
• Moral reasoning
is a study in psychology that overlaps with moral
philosophy. It is also called Moral development.
7. Who was Lawrence Kohlberg?
1927 - 1983
• Born in New York City in
1927.
• Kohlberg began studying
psychology as an
undergraduate at the
University of Chicago. In one
year, Kohlberg had earned
his B.A. in psychology and
continued his education as a
graduate student at the
University of Chicago. In
1958, Kohlberg earned his
Ph.D.
8. • Became fascinated by moral
development in children.
• Kohlberg studied moral reasoning &
development with much of his work
based on that of Jean Piaget and John
Dewey. He had a brief teaching position
at Yale University before moving onto
Harvard in 1967.
9. • While in Central America in 1973, Kohlberg
developed a rare and unknown tropical
disease which disabled him in many ways
and caused him to be severely depressed.
In January of 1987, Kohlberg disappeared,
his body was later found in a swamp area.
• There is some suspicion that Kohlberg took
his own life.
10. • He was adopted and built on
Piaget’s work, and set the
groundwork for the present
debate within psychology and
moral development.
• Like Piaget, He believed that the
children form ways of thinking
through their experiences which
include understandings of moral
concepts such as justice, rights,
equality, and human welfare.
11. • Kohlberg followed the
development of moral
judgment and extended the
ages covered by Piaget, and
found out the process of
attaining moral maturity took
longer and occurred slower
that Piaget had thought.
• His moral development theory
is not focused on whether the
actions are right or wrong.
Rather it is focused on the
moral reasoning behind them.
13. Ryan, 17, has been saving up money to buy a ticket for this
concert rock band. His parents have discouraged him from
going as the concert will surely be with a rowdy crowd. The
band is notorious for having out-of-control audience who
somehow manages to get drunk and stoned during the
concert.
14. Ryan agreed not to watch anymore. But a day
before the concert, Nic, 15-year-old brother of Ryan,
saw a corner of what appeared to be a concert ticket
showing in the pocket of Ryan’s bag. Nic examined
it and confirmed it was indeed a ticket. Nic also
found an extra shirt and 2 sticks of marijuana. So
he figured Ryan will go to the concert after all.
15. That night, Ryan told his
parents that he was spending
tomorrow night at a
classmate’s house for a school
requirement. Then later that
evening, he told Nic of his
plan to go the concert. Nic
didn’t say anything, but he
found it difficult to sleep that
night, thinking whether to
tell their parents or not.
16.
17. Levels of Moral Reasoning
• Preconventional—moral reasoning is
based on external rewards and
punishments
• Conventional—laws and rules are upheld
simply because they are laws and rules
• Postconventional—reasoning based on
personal moral standards
18. PRECONVENTIONAL
LEVEL
• Moral reasoning is
based on the
consequence/result
of the act, not on
the whether the act
itself is good or bad.
• Punishments and
rewards dominate
the sense of right &
wrong
Behavior motivated by
anticipation of pleasure
or pain.
FOCUS: Self
AGES:4 – 10 yrs.
old
19. Stage #1:Obedience and Punishment
Orientation
• One is motivated
by fear of
punishment.
• He will act in
order to avoid
punishment.
EX: The child won’t grab the
candy at the supermarket for
fear of being slapped
20. Possible answers for Moral dilemma by
children of Stage 1
“Yes, I will tell our parents. Because if they found out later that I knew,
for sure they will get angry and most likely punish me.
“No, I will not tell because Ryan will make my life difficult and also
punish me for telling.
21. Stage #2:Mutual Benefit
• One is motivated to act
by the benefit that one
may obtain later.
• You scratch my back, I’ll
scratch yours.
EX: A mother tells her child: “If
you are quiet at the mall, I will
buy you an ice cream.”
22. Possible answers for Moral dilemma by
children of Stage 2
“Yes, I will tell our parents because they will reward me for it. I will
subtly ask for that new Ipod that I’m wishing to have.
“No, I will not tell. Ryan will surely grant me a lot of favors for not
telling. He’ll not also squeal on me.
23. CONVENTIONAL LEVEL
• Moral reasoning
is based on the
conventions or
“norms” of
society.
• This may
include approval
of others, law
and order.
FOCUS: Significant Others, "Tyranny
of the They" (They say….
AGES:10 – 13 yrs. old
Acceptance of the rules and standards of
one's group.
24. Stage #3:Social Approval
• One is motivated by
what others expect in
behavior -good boy,
good girl. The person
acts because he/she
values how he/she
appear to others.
• He/she gives
importance on what
people will think or say.
EX: Volunteering at a nursing
home is the right thing to do.
25. Possible answers for Moral dilemma by
children of Stage 3
“Yes, I will tell so my parents will think I am such an honest boy”
“No, I will not tell. Ryan will think of me as a really cool brother.
26. Stage #4: Law and Order
• One is motivated to act
in order to uphold law
and order. The person
will follow the law
because it is the law.
EX: If you drink and
drive your endangering
the lives of others on the
road, not just yourself.
27. Possible answers for Moral dilemma by
children of Stage 4
“Yes, I will tell because we should follow the rules that our parents say”
“No, because it’s been our rule to keep each other’s secrets”
29. Stage #5: Social Contract
• Laws that are wrong
can be changed.
• One will act based on
social justice and the
common good.
At stage 5, people begin to
ask, "What makes for a good
society?" They begin to
think about society
considering the rights and
values that a society ought
to uphold.
30. Possible answers for Moral dilemma by
children of Stage 5
“Yes, I will tell because he might be hurt or get in trouble and his
welfare is top most priority”
“No, because he is big enough to question my parents decision not to
let him go”
31. Stage #6: Universal Ethical Principal
Orientation
• This is associated with the
development od one’s conscience.
• Having a set of standards that
drives one to posses moral
responsibility to make societal
changes regardless of
consequences to oneself.
EX: Rosa Parks refused to sit in the
back of the bus because it was an
unjust law discriminating against
African Americans.
32. Possible answers for Moral dilemma by
children of Stage 6
“Yes, I will tell because lying is always wrong and I want to be true to
what I believe in.”
“No, because I believe brothers watch out for each other. If he trusted
me with this, I should stay true to him and not say anything”
33. Criticisms of Kohlberg’s
theory
• Research has not supported Kohlberg’s belief that the
development of abstract thinking in adolescence
invariably leads people to the formation of idealistic
moral principles
• Some cross-cultural psychologists argue that
Kohlberg’s stories and scoring system reflect a Western
emphasis on individual rights, harm, and justice that is
not shared in many cultures.
• Kohlberg’s early research was conducted entirely with
male subjects, yet it became the basis for a theory
applied to both males and females.
