Moral Development - Piaget + Kohlberg

Fables

simple stories that convey a moral lesson

what kind of media can be used to teach positive social lessons

books, digital media

how many stages in piaget’s stages of moral development

two

what is the first stage in piagets two stage theory of moral development 

under 11 - rules = fixed and absolute, heteronomous morality

what is the second stage in piagets stages of moral development

11 and over - rules are not sacred, but devices for humans to get along cooperatively, autonomous morality

heteronomous morality

base moral judgements on consequences

autonomous reality

base moral judgements on intentions

what did Kohlberg create

more elaborated ‘stage theory’ of moral development

lawrence kohlberg dates 

1927-1987

how were kohlbergs stages developed/assigned

semi-clinical interview to explore thinking, presented dilemma, asked whether right/wrong + why + what punishment

Heinz Dilemma

man cant afford life saving drug for wife, breaks into store after he is refused lower price

levels of moral development 

preconventional morality, conventional morality, post-conventional morality 

preconventional morality

rules and societal expectations = external

conventional morality

individual internalises rules + expectations of society

post conventional morality 

individual defines values on self chosen principles 

Level 1, Stage 1 - Pre Conv Morality

Obedience and Punishment

Level 1, Stage 2 - Preconventional Morality

Individualism and Exchange

Obedience and Punishment level

it’s against law, you’ll be punished, assume only 1 right view 

Individualism and exchange stage

can see dif POV based on self interest, reciprocity = important

Level 2, stage 3 - Convent. morality

good interpersonal relations

level 2, stage 4 - convent. morality 

maintaining social order 

good interpersonal relations stage

people should live up to expectations of family and community, people have ‘good’ motives that reflect ‘community’ values, empathy

maintaining the social order stage

one should obey laws for a well-functioning society; otherwise chaos - society wide conception

what stage is the dominant stage in kohlbergs theory 

stage 4 - maintaining social order 

what age is stage 4 achieve

around 16

Level 3, Stage 5 - post conventional morality

social contract and individual rights

Level 3, Stage 6 - post conventional morality 

universal principles 

social contract and individual rights

what are the rights of individuals and what are the values of a good society?

stage 6 - universal principles

one should treat claims of all parties equally, civil disobedience = correct to maintain social justice

implications of kohlbergs theory for media use 

children of different ages may learn different ‘lessons’ from same message, media could expose children to higher levels of moral reasoning 

according to kohlberg, how does moral development occur

through one’s own thinking and social experiences, including discussions and debates

what is needed for advanced moral reasoning according to kohlberg?

role taking and exposure

invariant sequence 

stages in order u

universal sequence

stages are the same in all cultures since stages do not refer to specific beliefs but to underlying modes of reasoning

vgotskys response to kohlbergs levels of moral reasoning

children can engage in higher level of moral reasoning when discussing media with parent or more capable peer (within their ZPD)

CRITICISMS of kohlbers theory 

does not provide link between moral reasoning + behaviour, theory = culturally biased, does not account for different levels in different situs 

what other criticism is there for kohlbers theory

gender biased (gilligan argues women deal with morality issues differently than men)