IV. IV. Moral DevelopmentMoral Development

learning of behaviors that are learning of behaviors that are considered right or wrong.considered right or wrong.

Have you ever cheated on quizzes Have you ever cheated on quizzes and tests? Is it morally acceptable to and tests? Is it morally acceptable to cheat?cheat?

Most of you don’t rob banks, why?Most of you don’t rob banks, why? Is it ok to speed?Is it ok to speed? Is it ok to steal from a store?Is it ok to steal from a store? Is that different than stealing from a Is that different than stealing from a

person?person?

Lawrence Kholberg-- Theory of moral Lawrence Kholberg-- Theory of moral reasoningreasoning

Moral reasoning changes over timeMoral reasoning changes over time Used Used moral dilemmas moral dilemmas --a difficult --a difficult

moral question or scenariomoral question or scenario– Testing how moral reasoning changesTesting how moral reasoning changes

Used the Used the Heinz Moral Dilemma Heinz Moral Dilemma to to show moral reasoningshow moral reasoning

Believed moral reasoning occurred in Believed moral reasoning occurred in a certain sequencea certain sequence

Theory included 3 levels and two Theory included 3 levels and two stages in each levelstages in each level– Total of 6 stagesTotal of 6 stages

In Europe, a woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times what the drug cost him to make. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2,000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman's husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could only get together about $ 1,000 which is half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said: "No, I discovered the drug and I'm going to make money from it." So Heinz got desperate and broke into the man's store to steal the drug-for his wife. Should the husband have done that? (Kohlberg, 1963)."

Level I Preconventional LevelLevel I Preconventional Level

Moral values reside in external events, or Moral values reside in external events, or bad actsbad acts

The child is responsive to rules and The child is responsive to rules and evaluative labels (that’s bad, trouble, evaluative labels (that’s bad, trouble, good)good)

Pleasant or unpleasant consequences of Pleasant or unpleasant consequences of actions teach moralityactions teach morality

Physical power of those who impose rules Physical power of those who impose rules teach moralityteach morality

By the age of 9, most kids are done with By the age of 9, most kids are done with this levelthis level

Stage 1 Obedience and Stage 1 Obedience and Punishment Orientation Punishment Orientation

Simple name “avoiding punishment”Simple name “avoiding punishment” Egocentric deference to superior Egocentric deference to superior

power or prestigepower or prestige What is good is what helps one avoid What is good is what helps one avoid

punishmentpunishment Heinz is wrong to steal the drug--Heinz is wrong to steal the drug--

punishmentpunishment

Stage 2 Naively Egoistic Stage 2 Naively Egoistic Orientation Orientation

Simple name “satisfying needs”Simple name “satisfying needs” The right actions will satisfy a The right actions will satisfy a

person’s needsperson’s needs Heinz is right to steal the drug Heinz is right to steal the drug

because having his wife satisfies his because having his wife satisfies his needsneeds

  

Level II--Conventional LevelLevel II--Conventional Level

Moral values reside in performing the Moral values reside in performing the right roleright role

Conventional means accepted Conventional means accepted standardsstandards

Moral acts conform to conventional Moral acts conform to conventional standards of right and wrong (laws)standards of right and wrong (laws)

Stage 3 Good Boy/Good Girl Stage 3 Good Boy/Good Girl Orientation Orientation

Simple name “winning approval”Simple name “winning approval” What is good gains approval from What is good gains approval from

othersothers Behavior is now evaluated by Behavior is now evaluated by

intentionintention Heinz would steal the drug in order Heinz would steal the drug in order

to gain the approval of society and to gain the approval of society and wifewife

Stage 4 Authority and Social Order Stage 4 Authority and Social Order Maintaining Orientation Maintaining Orientation

Simple name “law and order”Simple name “law and order” Showing respect of law and orderShowing respect of law and order Obey law and respect authority Obey law and respect authority Obligated to follow rulesObligated to follow rules Heinz would not steal the drug out of Heinz would not steal the drug out of

respect for the law--everyone must respect for the law--everyone must respect lawrespect law

Level III –Post-Conventional LevelLevel III –Post-Conventional Level

Moral standards are internalMoral standards are internal Judgments made on standards of Judgments made on standards of

right and wrong right and wrong Also based on social orderAlso based on social order

stage 5 Contractual/Legalistic stage 5 Contractual/Legalistic Orientation Orientation

Simple name “social order”Simple name “social order” Laws have value and should not be Laws have value and should not be

violatedviolated Contract between the law and an Contract between the law and an

individualindividual If the contract breaks down, the law can If the contract breaks down, the law can

be brokenbe broken Only violate laws with good, moral reasonsOnly violate laws with good, moral reasons Heinz would steal the drug, the contract Heinz would steal the drug, the contract

was brokenwas broken

Stage 6 The Morality of Universal Stage 6 The Morality of Universal Ethics Ethics

Simple name “universal ethics”Simple name “universal ethics” Morality that values life, justice, dignityMorality that values life, justice, dignity Individual conscience does not need lawsIndividual conscience does not need laws Make the highest moral judgments Make the highest moral judgments Altruism- self sacrificeAltruism- self sacrifice Would violate laws if laws contradicted the Would violate laws if laws contradicted the

highest moral decisionhighest moral decision Heinz would steal the drugHeinz would steal the drug