KOHLBERG’S THEORY OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT

KOHLBERG’S  THEORY OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT

 

Kohlberg's theory was about moral development ( initiated by Piaget) and is based on Heinz Dilemma which describes about few terms, these are following:

Heinz Dilemma

1)  Moral Realism : Rule are fixed / rigid i.e. if it is break then punishment will be get.

2)  Moral Cooperation : If your indention is perfect or right then you can break the rule for example  Ambulance passed as its intension is true.

3)  Moral Dilemma : The term dilemma itself means confusion between right and wrong i.e. no moral choice is right .

4)  Moral reasoning ( justice) : Thinking process(logical) involved in the judgement of question of  right and wrong.

·       According to him-

•  moral development follows squential development
•     The school play vital role in the development of morality
•     Development process lag behind the learning process. 
•  The maximum development of morality completed with in 13 years.
•  

He has given three level and six stages. These are

LEVEL 01 :  Pre-conventional Morality /Pre morality / Pre molar (3-7 Years)

•   Lowest morality present  in the child.
•   Internal standard are imposed by rewards and punishment

Stage -01  obedience and punishment / avoiding punishment 

The child is not matured. The child does only that work for which is rewarded and vice versa because he think that the work for which he is getting rewards are correct while other work are wrong for which he is punished. Example if I do the homework then I will not punished.

Statge2:  Rewards orientation /self interested / stage of ego centrisms /individual exchange / instumental purpose oriented

• In this stage the child see his benefits / advantage and he did that work only.Like if you do this for me I will do for you i.e. tit for tat.
  

Level 2 : Conventional morality  ( 8-13 years)

•    Internal standard are imposed by other.

Stage 3: Good boy attitude /good boy –good girl/ interpersonal relationship

It is the stage of appreciation. The child does those work through which he get appreciation of society /world. He does not want to make negative relationship with the world. He is able to understand the meaning of appreciation and hurting.

  

Stage 4 : Authority / Law and order

He follow all the law and order made by the society just to establish his identity and to get respect from th esocirty .it is very important to good and moral behaviours.

Level 3 : Post Conventional morality (+ 18 years)

•    Internal are not based on external  

   Stage 5: Social contract and Individual right 

  The child is able to understand every things .i.e. he is able to understand the law and orders are not fixed by nature , this all are r temporary and can be changed as per need and it is individual right. He just follow the society so that he does not disconnect from the society.

          Stage 6: Universal ethics / intentional stage

He started his own logical and ideas.He starts following his own ideas and decides what is true and false .example- traffic light i.e. if there is need of breaking the rule ,he will do because his intension is true .

 

 

Kohlberg's Theory stages

Critism

•    Lady Carol giligan according to her he only considered the male perspective not female /gender bias / cultural difference of male and female perspective.
•  He does not relate his theory with the cognitive.
•  He mainly focus on the reasoning rather than on actual behaviour
• He was also critise even for being to much idealistic and over emphasis of the role of language in thinking.