Kohlberg's stages of Moral

Development

Lawrence Kohlberg

(October 25, 1927 – January 19, 1987)

1/16/2014

Professor in the Psychology Department at the University of Chicago and

at the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University

Lawrence Kohlberg (1958) agreed with Piaget's (1932) theory of moral

development in principle but wanted to develop his ideas further.

He used Piaget’s story-telling technique to tell people stories involving moral

dilemmas. In each case he presented a choice to be considered for example between the

rights of some authority and the needs of some deserving individual who is being unfairly

treated.

he used moral dillemas (Heinz) to see the children's reasoning

his study has three levels with six stages that concerned with

justice

what's important is not the reasoning itself but how will you justify

it.

1/16/2014

Lawrence Kohlberg – Moral

Development

1/16/2014

The Heinz dilemma: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 produce. 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 Heinz have broken into the store to steal the drug for his

wife? Why or why not?

1/16/2014

Level 1: Pre-Conventional Morality

Stage 1

• Stage one (punishment & obedience):

Heinz should not steal the drug

He will be put in prison

Which means he’s a bad person and he commited a crime.

Or:

Heinz should steal the drug

it is only worth $200

Heinz had even offered to pay but the scientist refused it & her wouldn’t steal anything

else.

1/16/2014

Level 1: Pre-Conventional Morality

Stage 2

• Stage two (reward & self-interest):

Heinz should not steal the drug

Prison is awful; being in a jail cell is worse than his wife's death.

Or:

Heinz should steal the drug

he will be much happier if he will enable to save his wife's life.

1/16/2014

Level 2: Conventional Morality

Stage 3

• Stage three (conformity – good-boy/nice girl ):

Stealing is bad & it will make him a criminal

He tried without breaking the law, you can’t blame him.

Or:

Heinz should steal the drug

His wife expects it;

He wants to be a good husband. •

1/16/2014

Level 2: Conventional Morality

Stage 4

• Stage four (law-and-order):

• Heinz should not steal the drug

• the law prohibits stealing it’s unlawful

• Or:

• Heinz should steal the drug

He should take full responsibility and pay for the crime he commited.

Actions have their consequences.

1/16/2014

Level 3: Post- Conventional Morality

Stage 5

• Stage five (human rights):

• Heinz should not steal the drug

The scientist has a right to fair compensation. and has the right to refuse payment if

not complete.

His wife’s illness it does not make his actions right.

Or:

• Heinz should steal the drug

To save life is more important than follwing laws.

1/16/2014

Level 3: Post- Conventional Morality

Stage 6

• Stage six (universal human ethics):

• Heinz should not steal the drug

Others may need the drug just as badly & their lives are equally in danger at that time

Or:

Heinz should steal the drug

Each person has the same right. it is just a matter of first come first serve basis.