AP Psych: Moral Development

Kohlberg

• Inspired by Piaget

• Looked into “Moral Dilemmas” to investigate decisions

Level 1: Preconventional

• decisions based on consequences

• both positive and negative

• Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment

  • Behavior judged: “Will I be punished?”

  • Bad-Punishment Good-No Punishment

• Stage 2: Individual Interest/Rewards

  • Behavior judged “good” when serves personal needs or interests

Level 2: Conventional

• Decisions made in an attempt to meet societal moral expectations

• Stage 3: Standards of Peers/ Social Approval

  • Behavior determined by what pleases others

  • Conform to rules to impress others; “will my family or friends get mad at me?”

• Stage 4: Laws/Order of Society

  • Obeying laws and rules b/c they are needed

  • It’s your duty! Nobody is above it!

Level 3: Postconventional

• Individuals decide for themselves what is right or wrong

• Stage 5: Social Contract

  • Laws are social contracts, necessary for society, but can be modified if they do not serve the general welfare

• Stage 6: Universal Principles

  • Laws are valid only if they are just; otherwise, there is a moral obligation to disobey unjust laws

  • E.G. human rights, justice, and equality