8

Introduction to Moral Development in Adolescence and Lifespan

• Importance of having the Kohlberg handout before discussing moral development.
• Lawrence Kohlberg as a central figure in moral development theories.
• Focus on moral reasoning, judgment, and decision-making rather than moral behavior.

Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

• Kohlberg's model is a stage theory indicating qualitative differences in moral reasoning.
• Stages are organized in a staircase fashion, indicating distinct characteristics at each level.
• Three basic levels of moral development:
  • Preconventional morality
  • Conventional morality
  • Postconventional morality

Stages and Substages Overview

• Emphasis on understanding the three levels, rather than memorizing the substages.
• No prescribed age ranges associated with the stages—Kohlberg deemed ages arbitrary.
• Most individuals may not reach the postconventional level.

Moral Dilemmas and Determining Level of Development

• Kohlberg utilized moral dilemmas to determine the level of moral reasoning.
• Heinz dilemma is a well-known scenario used:
  • Scenario Summary: Heinz's wife is gravely ill and needs an expensive drug from a single pharmacist who refuses to sell it for less than its price.
  • Question posed: Should Heinz steal the drug to save his wife's life?
• Kohlberg is interested in the reasoning behind the decision, not the decision itself.

Preconventional Morality

• Defined as the morality of self-interest:
  • Decisions are made based on personal consequences.
  • Example responses:
  • Yes: Heinz should steal the drug because he will be in trouble if his wife dies.
  • No: He shouldn't steal because he will be caught and imprisoned.
  • Yes: Stealing could save his wife for his own benefit.
  • No: What good is a wife if he is in jail?

Conventional Morality

• Described as the morality of law and social convention:
  • Laws viewed as cultural norms essential for social order.
  • Example responses:
  • Yes: Heinz should steal the drug to be seen as a hero if his wife lives.
  • No: He shouldn’t steal because society will label him a criminal.

Postconventional Morality

• Represents the morality of abstract principles:
  • Emphasizes values like truth, honor, and justice.
  • Example responses:
  • Yes: Heinz must steal the drug because saving a life holds precedence over property laws.
  • No: Laws are essential for societal cooperation, even at a personal loss.

Critique of Kohlberg's Model

• Kohlberg initially selected only male participants for his studies, which resulted in criticism:
  • Reactions after including women showed a tendency for women to appear at lower levels of moral reasoning.
• This contradicted prevailing beliefs that women were inherently more moral.
• Carol Gilligan critiqued Kohlberg's methodology and conclusions:
  • Argued that men and women approach moral reasoning differently based on quality, not quantity of reasoning.

Gilligan's Argument

• Men focused on principles such as truth and justice, whereas women emphasize human welfare and care:
  • Example from Gilligan's theory involves different biblical stories to illustrate the distinction between male and female moral reasoning.
  • Story of Abraham represents male abstract principles relating to faith and obedience.
  • Story of King Solomon symbolizes the female inclination toward protection and care.

Research Findings on Gender Differences in Moral Decision Making

• Literature indicates a small but consistent difference in moral reasoning between genders:
  • Expected difference contradicts Gilligan's assertion of substantial differences based on gender.
• Distinction made between gender and gender roles:
  • Research shows that moral judgments are influenced more by one’s gender role than by gender alone.
  • Masculine individuals often prioritize abstract principles, while feminine individuals focus on welfare and care.
• Important to differentiate Gilligan's arguments (gender-based) from empirical findings (gender role-based).

Conclusion on Moral Development

• Summary emphasizes understanding the levels of moral development and the ongoing discourse in gender differences in moral reasoning.
• Avoid memorizing Gilligan's substages but focus on her primary arguments and findings.