Moral Development of Children

By:Virginia Marroy and

Brad Williams

Lawrence KohlbergBibliography

Kohlberg was born into wealth on October 25, 1927 in Bronxville, NY.

Even though he was wealthy, he chose to become a sailor.

Kohlberg was a psychologist who applied the developmental approach of Jean Piaget, who he studied under, to the analysis of changes in moral reasoning of children.

Kohlberg was a professor and did most of his research at Harvard University.

Kohlberg developed a tropical disease in 1973 and while he was hospitalized in 1987, he was reported missing. His body was later found in a marsh. Cause of death was rumored to be suicide. Kohlberg ended his life at the age of 59.

Six Stages of Moral

Development

Level I: Preconventional ages 4-10

Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation

A child’s moral judgement is motivated by a need to avoid punishment.

Example: “I do not draw on the wall because my mommy will get mad at me.”

Level I: Preconventional ages 4-10

Stage 2: Instrumental-Relativist Orientation.

A child’s moral judgement is motivated by a need to satisfy own desires.

Example: “For my allowance I will clean up my room.

Level II: Conventionalages 10-13

Stage 3:"Good Boy/Nice Girl" Orientation

A Child’s moral judgement is motivated by a need to avoid rejection or disapproval from others.

Example: “I do not talk during a test because my teacher does not like it.”

Level II: Conventionalages 10-13

Stage 4: Law and Order Orientation

A child’s moral judgement is motivated by a need to not to be criticized by an authority figure. (parent/teacher)

Example: “I do not run in the halls because that is one of the rules.”

Level III: Postconventional(adolescence - adulthood)

Stage 5: Social ContractAn individual’s moral

judgement is motivated by community respect, respecting social order, and respect for legally/determined laws.

Example: “I do not speed because it is against the law.”

Level III: Postconventional(adolescence - adulthood)

Stage 6: Universal, Ethical Principles

An individual’s moral judgement is motivated by his or her own conscience.

Example: “I do not pay my taxes because it is the law, but because it is the right thing to do.”

The Moral Dilemma

The Heinz Dilemma Heinz’s wife was dying from cancer. One special drug recently

discovered by a local druggist might save her. The druggist could make the drug for about $200 but was selling it for 10 times the amount. So Heinz went to everyone he knew to try to borrow the $2,000 he needed, but he could only scrape together $1,000. “My wife’s dying,” he told the druggist, asking him to sell the drug cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist refused. Desperate, Heinz broke into the drugstore and stole the drug for his wife.

Should Heinz of done that? Why or why not?

2nd and 5th Grade Version of the Heinz Dilemma.

Joe’s wife was dying from cancer. Joe recently heard about a miracle drug that might save his wife’s life. Joe found out that the doctor who sold this miracle drug was selling it for 10 times the amount it was worth. The drug only cost $200 dollars to make, but the doctor was selling it for $2,000. Joe went to his family, friends, and anyone who he thought would be able to help him pay for the miracle drug, but he could only come up with $1,000. Joe went to the doctor and said, “my wife is dying. Can you please sell the drug for $1,000 instead of $2,000 or let me pay the rest of it later?” But the doctor refused Joe’s offer. Joe was desperate. That night, Joe broke into the doctor’s office and stole the drug that might save his wife’s life. Should Joe have stolen the drug? Why or why not?

Problem

Will our experiment of Kohlberg’s Heinz dilemma follow appropriately his six stages of moral development?

Setting

We will test the Heinz dilemma at the Holy Family school, specifically targeting second and fifth grade students.

We will also test the Heinz dilemma at the Highlands after school program, which will target the same age group as above: 7 and 8 year olds and 10 and 11 year olds.

HypothesesWe predict that we will find very similar results to

Kohlberg’s studies on moral development.We believe that when we evaluate the

second graders, the majority will fall into pre-conventional stage.

We believe that when we evaluate the fifth graders, the majority will fall into the conventional stage.

We do not expect to find any children at the post-conventional stage.

Delimitations

Limits on this project include:Whether or not the children actually understand

the dilemma enough to respond to it.Whether or not the children are actually going

to be able to express their answers on paper.If we will be able to interpret the children’s

answers accordingly.

We assume that the children will be listening attentively to the dilemma and will answer the question we present to them.

We assume that the older children’s answers will be more coherent.

We Hereby Assume,

An Example of a Second Grader’s answer to the Heinz Dilemma

This child is pre-conventional because his entire answer is based on what he just learned in class. His answer is a response to authority,

which is a very common sign of pre-conventional thinking.

Another Example of a Second Grader’s answer to the Heinz Dilemma

Another Pre-Conventional answer from a child who obviously can only see himself in the world. The child answers “It was bad” because an authoritative figure, parent or teacher, told him it was bad to steal.

An Example of a Fifth Grader’s Answer to the Heinz Dilemma

This answer is Conventional because the child recognizes that the doctor is selfish and morally wrong. Though the doctor does not

break the law, this child sees him as the true criminal.

2nd Grade Data(Holy Family School and Highlands School)

Sex Age Date ofBirth

Answer to Heinz Dilemma Question

Female 7 3/9/92 No, because it is not nice to steal.Female 7 4/14/92 No, because it is not nice to steal and because it is

breaking the 7th Commandment.Female 7 3/27/92 No, because it would be bad to do it because they might

not have any more.Female 7 2/12/92 Joe’s wife was dying. Joe stole the drug, but it was not

right.Female 7 6/19/92 Joe stole the drug to save his wife. Was that right or

wrong? Wrong, that is against the 10 Commandments.Female 7 4/3/92 No, because it is bad to steal stuff.

Female 7 6/3/92 Joe should had not have stolen the drugs because it is notright.

Female 8 10/3/91 I think that Joe should not have stolen the drug because hecould have got in jail and he couldn’t save his wife.

Female 8 10/18/91 No he shouldn’t have because he can bite it.Female 8 6/18/91 No, because you do not steal.Male 6 6/12/93 No, Joe shouldn’t have stole the drug.Male 7 1/30/92 No, because you have to pay the money.Male 7 4/22/92 Yes, because his wife needed help.Male 7 4/10/92 Yes, because it cost too much.Male 7 He should not have stolen it. It was bad.Male 8 6/27/91 No, because that is bad. I mean tell him please and he

might give it to you.Male 8 10/31/91 No, because he has broken the 7th Commandment.

Female 5th Grade Data (Holy Family School and Highlands School)

Sex Age Date ofBirth

Answer to Heinz Dilemma Question

Female 10 5/6/89 No, because it his wife was dying, he’d care a lot and would wantto save her life from death. He could’ve just paid for the drug.

Female 10 4/13/89 No, because there might have been other kinds of drugs that werecheaper and that could cure her.

Female 10 7/30/89 Well, he probably was desperate, but he should not have stolefrom the doctor. He could have gotten several jobs, maybe godoor to door, or make fund raisers.

Female 10 4/7/89 No, because he really did not know if it would work or not, eventhough he could save a person’s life. And if it didn’t work, he’llprobably get caught.

Female 10 9/26/89 I think it was ok because he was desperate and it might save hiswife’s life.

Female 11 11/1/88 I think Joe should not have stolen the drug because it is wrong tosteal even if it’s a wrong price. Joe should have maybe told thepolice or a lawyer, or even told the hospital of the price range onthe drug.

Female 11 2/13/88 Yes and no. Yes because his wife was dying. No, because it iswrong to steal.

Female 11 10/8/88 No, because he made a sin.Female 11 11/6/88 No he shouldn’t have because stealing is against the 10

Commandments. But the doctor was cheating people just to getmore money.

Female 11 9/7/88 He shouldn’t of stole it. But it would probably be the best way tocure his wife.

Male 5th Grade Data (Holy Family School and Highlands School)

Sex Age Date ofBirth

Answer to Heinz Dilemma Question

Male 10 7/10/89 No, Joe should not have stole the drug because get a job and try toearn another $1000 to buy the drug.

Male 10 8/1/89 He should not have stolen the drug. But the doctor should of soldit for what it was worth.

Male 10 1/24/89 Yes, because he needs the medicine to help his wife.Male 10 1/5/89 He should not have stolen the drug because that is against one of

the 10 Commandments and is against the law.Male 10 3/22/89 Yes, because he could save another person’s life and he won’t just

let her die.Male 10 5/23/89 No, he should have not because he could go to jail and his wife

would die.Male 11 10/6/88 I think he should not break into the doctor’s office because if the

doctor would have given the drug to him, the doctor wouldn’t getany money and people need money to survive.

Male 11 7/12/88 No, because he was stealing something and that’s one of the 10Commandments. He should have tried harder to raise the money.

Male 11 8/16/88 It depends, because he shouldn’t have stole it because that’s thewrong thing. But then he was selling it for more than it wasworth.

Male 11 8/30/88 No, it is not right to steal stuff, and he could have earned enoughmoney if he kept trying.

5th Grade Data(Gilbert Elementary School TAG class)

Sex Age Date ofBirth

Answer to Heinz Dilemma

Female 10 4/12/89 No, Joe shouldn’t have stolen the drug. I think that what he did waswrong. He should have gone knocking on houses and telling them hisproblem. That way he wouldn’t steal the drug. Another reason is thatmaybe the drug won’t work.

Female 10 3/28/89 Yes because he would rather be in jail than his wife die.Female 10 2/17/89 Yes, because the doctor was not fair at all. He sold it for $2000 when it

only cost $200. He was being selfish for not giving it because Joe’swife’s life is on the line and his is not. His wife really needs it becauseshe might die.

Female 11 9/7/88 No, because it was the doctor’s property, and if Joe went to jail, if he gotcaught, he probably would seldom see his wife.

Female 11 10/7/88 No, because the miracle drug might or might not work because in thestory it said that might work.

Female 11 4/9/88 No, because it isn’t right to steal from others. He could have tried tomake more money or tried to find another doctor.

Male 10 8/17/88 Yes, because his wife was dying and needed it. No, because it is wrongto steal and because dying is part of life and you just have to let ithappen.

Male 10 11/21/88 Yes, because he is saving someone’s life.Male 10 5/4/88 Yes, because the doctor was selling the medicine for too much money.Male 10 7/7/89 Yes, because his wife would have died if he didn’t steal the drug.Male 11 10/26/88 Yes, because his wife was dying and he didn’t have enough money.Male 11 9/29/88 Because Joe’s wife was dying, I think he should not have stolen the drug

because it’s really bad.Male 11 9/29/88 Yes, because saving a life is worth more than getting in trouble.Male 11 2/13/88 Yes, because the doctor was selling it for too much money.Male 11 6/25/88 Yes, he stole it to save a person’s life.

Internet Sources For more information on Kohlberg’s Stage Theory, go to

these internet websites.http://mentalhelp.net/psyhelp/chap3/

http://snycorva.cortland.edu/~ANDERSMD/KOHL/CONTENT.HTML

http://www.uic.edu/~lnucci/MoralEd/

http://www.vgernet.net/diogenes/ex/lists/moraldev.html

http://www.ets.uidaho.edu/center_for_ethics/gilligan/index.htm