kohlberg’s stages of moral development why we make the decisions we make…
TRANSCRIPT
Stage 1 – Reward and Punishment
O Our earliest moral decisions are made on the basis of physical reward or punishment.
O Young children often make decisions in much the same way as animals – they are trained to expect reward or punishment depending on their choice.
Stage 1 ExamplesO I will not take a cookie out of the jar
because I don’t want to get sent to my room without dinner.
O I will make my bed because if I do, I always get a quarter from my parents.
O I will write on the walls with this crayon because nothing bad happens to me even when my parents get angry.
Stage 2 – Quid Pro QuoO Decisions made in this stage are
done through a sense of bartering or negotiation.
O Decision makers no longer simply accept the consequences, but they work to change the consequences before making a decision.
Stage 2 ExamplesO I will clean the basement, but only if
you take me to the mall.
O I will give you the answer to #4 if you let me ask your sister to Homecoming.
O I will be good for the rest of the week if you just buy me that toy right now.
Stage 3 - ConformingO Decision makers act based on the opinions
of the people who matter to them. What do I want others to think about me?
O This is the “good boy” or “nice girl” stage, in which a person wants to protect his image with friends, family or community members.
O Often associated with middle school years
Stage 3 ExamplesO I never swear in front of my grandma
because I want her to think I am a good person.
O I swear when I am with my friends because I want them to think that I am mature and not afraid to break some rules.
O I am always nice to the teacher’s face so that she likes me, but always rip on her when I leave the room so that my friends don’t think I am a “teacher’s pet.”
Stage 4 – Law and Order
O Known as the “duty” stage, this stage is governed by the rules. Decisions are usually made to follow the laws simply because that is what is expected.
O Rules will be broken, but only if the decision maker sees no danger in everyone disregarding the rules. “What would happen if everyone did what I am about to do?”
Stage 4 ExamplesO I drive the speed limit because it is
the law.
O I wear dress code because that is what the school requires.
O I take the little soaps and shampoos from hotels because even if everyone did that, it wouldn’t make much difference to the hotel.
Stage 5 – Social Contract
O A person in stage 5 looks behind the law to see whether the decision is consistent with the values of society.
O Laws may be violated if they are bad laws, if they go against the values of the group (society, Church, etc.)
Stage 5 ExamplesO I will not read your diary because our
family values privacy.
O I will respect your opinion because our society values freedom of opinion and expression.
O I will protest against abortion because killing innocent babies is against our values of respect for life.
Stage 6 – Personal Conscience
O Decisions are made based on universal ethical principles (dignity, justice, respect)
O Regardless of what society thinks, a person in stage6 acts according to her conscience and her understanding of ethical principles.
O People in stage 6 do the right things, unless they misunderstand a situation.
Stage 6 ExamplesO I will help the homeless person
because every human being has basic dignity that should be respected.
O I will not steal because it would be unjust to take something that doesn’t belong to me.
Practice…O Let’s try to show our knowledge with
this practice decision….write down what a person in each stage might choose to do and WHY.
O Decision: To cheat on a final exam