Kohlbergs development stages

Preconventional

7-10

Conventional

10-13

Postconventional

13-up

Stage one: punishment orientation

-right and wrong is determined by what is punished
-child tries to avoid punishment and receive rewards
-will mention fear of punishment as a reason why rules should not be broken

Stage one response to: should Heinz have stolen the drug

No, he might go to jail
OR
Yes, his wife would’ve never spoken to him again

Stage 2: naive reward orientation

-right and wrong is determined by what is rewarded
-focus on individualism
-primary interests are selfish

Stage two response to: should Heinz have stolen the drug

Yes, he will be much happier if he saves his wife even if he will have to serve a prison sentence

Stage three: Good boy/girl orientation

-right and wrong are determined by close others’ approval or disapproval
-child trying to live up to what others think fo him or her
-tries to conform to these rules

Stage three response to: should Heinz have stolen the drug

Yes, his family may expect him to do anything to save his wife
OR
No, he doesn’t want to be seen as a thief by others

Stage 4: authority orientation

-right and wrong are determined by societies rules and laws, which should be obeyed rightly
-development of conscience

Stage four response to: should Heinz have stolen the drug

No, Laws exist for a reason and it is not right to steal someone else’s property as it is against the law

Stage five: social contract orientation

-right and wrong are determined by society’s rules which are viewed as fallible rather than absolute
-belief in individual rights and social contracts
-individual rights may outweighs social contracts

Stage five response to: Should Heinz have stolen the drug

Yes, the value of human life is more than the value of medicine
OR
No, the druggist has the right to make back the money he spent developing the drug and expect the laws will protect his property

Stage six: individual principles and conscious orientation

-right and wrong are determined by abstract ethical principles that emphasize equity and justice

Stage five response to: should Heinz have stolen the drug

Heinz realizes that laws are important to keep society running, but also knows that they can be too rigid to apply in some cases. Heinz may justify that saving a life is more important than an abstract symbol of power: money

Carrol Gilligan

Research morality for females