MORAL DEVELOPMENT

ETHICS

MORAL DEVELOPMENT

focuses on the emergence, change, and understanding of morality from infancy through adulthood.

MORAL DEVELOPMENT

The theory states that morality develops across a life span in a variety of ways and is influenced by an individual’s experiences and behavior when faced with moral issues through different periods of physical and cognitive development.

LAWRENCE KOHLBERG

An American Psychologist best known for his theory of stages of moral development. His theory focuses on the thinking process that occurs when one decides whether a behavior is right or wrong.

LEVEL 1: PRE-CONVENTIONAL LEVEL

• This is the first level of moral development, lasting until approximately age 8. During this level, children accept the authority and moral code of others.

• This is when people follow rules because they don’t want to get it trouble, or they want to get a reward.

• This is based on what authority figures tell you to do rather than what you think is right or wrong.

STAGE 1: OBEDIENCE / PUNISHMENT

• The child/individual is good to avoid being punished. If a person is punished, they must have done wrong.

• Behavior is determined by consequences. The individual will obey in order to avoid punishment

STAGE 2: SELF-INTEREST

• Interest shifts to rewards rather than punishment and effort is made to secure greatest benefits for oneself.

• The individual focuses on receiving rewards or satisfying personal needs.

LEVEL 2: CONVENTIONAL LEVEL

• Conformity to social rules remains important to individual.

• The emphasis shifts from self-interest to relationships with other people and social systems.

• 8 yr old - Early Adolescence

• Strives to support rules that are set forth by others such as parents, peers, and the government in order to win their approval or to maintain social order.

STAGE 3: GOOD INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

• Also known as the “Good Boy/Girl Orientation”

• The behavior is determined by social approval.

• The individual wants to maintain or win the affection and approval of others by being a “Good Person”

STAGE 4: LAW AND ORDER MORALITY

• The child/individual becomes aware of the wider rules of society, so judgements concern obeying the rules to uphold the law and avoid guilt.

• Moral decision making becomes more than consideration of close ties to others.

• The individual believes that rules and laws maintain social order that is worth preserving.

LEVEL 3: POST-CONVENTIONAL LEVEL

• Characterized by an individual’s understanding of universal ethical principles.

• People think about what is fair, just, and what values are important. (Maturity and Adulthood)

• When people decide based on what they think is right rather than just following the rules.

• People at this level have their own ethical principles and values and don’t just do what society tells them to do.

STAGE 5: SOCIAL CONTRACT & INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

• The individual views laws and rules as flexible tools for improving human purposes.

• An individual becomes aware that while laws/rules exist for the good of the greatest number, there are times when they will work against the interest of particular individuals.

STAGE 6: UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLE

• People at this stage have developed their own set of moral guidelines, which may or may not fit the law.

• Ex: human rights, justice, and equality.

• The person will be prepared to act/to defend these principles even if it means going against the rest of society in the process and having to pay the consequences of disapproval and/or imprisonment.