kohlberg

Background and aims

• stage 1 = punishment orientation- physical consequences determine good/ bad behaviour

• Stage 2 = instrumental orientation- fairness as long as own needs are met

• Stage 3 = good boy/girl orientation- behaving well to please others

• Stage 4 = authority orientation- respecting authority and seeking to maintain social order

• Stage 5 = social contract orientation- respect for democratic processes. Legal POV

• Stage 6 = universal ethical principles- respect for the dignity of all humans

Method

• longitudinal study - over 12 years

• Cross cultural

• Quasi experiment

• IV= age

• DV= stage of moral development

• IV= culture

• DV= stage of development

• Data collected by semi structured interview

Sample

• 75 American boys who were 10-16 when started and 22-28 at end

• 10,13 and 16

• Data also collected from other countries

Materials

• moral dilemmas developed by kohlberg ( Heinz dilemma )

• All listened to a dilemma and were asked a series of open and closed Q’s

Procedure

• tested every 3-4 years

• Each tested by giving them moral dilemmas and seeing which stage they are at.

• Then asked Q’s ( open and closed ) to explain answers

• Took around 45 mins and covered 9 dilemmas

Cross cultural sample:

• tested boys in 2 rural villages in Malaysia and Taiwan

• Helped by a Chinese researcher to translate

• Asked about theft of food

• Also tested boys in Mexico and Turkey

Results

• At 10 stage 1 is most common

• In USA at 16 order went 5,4,3,2,1

• Mexico and Taiwan had slower development. Most at stage 3 when 16

• Stage 6 was rare in all cultures

• Middle class were more advanced than lower class