Kohlbergs Stages of Moral Development Why we make

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development Why we make the decisions we make…

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 Examples O 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 Quo O 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 Examples O 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 - Conforming O 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 Examples O 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 Examples O 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 Examples O 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 stage 6 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 Examples O 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

Learning Check… O This time, work on your own to see if you can apply this idea…. write down what a person in each stage might choose to do and WHY. O Decision: To tell the truth about being late for curfew.