THREE LEVELS OF KOHLBERGS THEORY By Dr Suhina

THREE LEVELS OF KOHLBERG’S THEORY By Dr. Suhina Chatterjee Karim city college Jamshedpur

THREE LEVELS OF KOHLBERG’S THEORY 3) The post-conventional level- At this stage person judge morality in terms of abstract principles and values rather than in terms of existing laws or rules of society. Ø This level is also called principled level. Ø Post- conventional level divided into two stages a. Legalistic orientation b. Universal ethical principle orientation

CONTINUE… a) b) Ø Legalistic orientation- In this stage morality judged in terms of human rights. Individual rights determine behaviour. The individual views laws and rules as flexible tools for improving human purposes. Universal ethical principle orientation- In this stage morality judged in terms of self- chosen ethical principles of conscience. Some individuals will never reach this level.

CONTINUE…. Ø Ø Criticism of Kohlberg’s theory: Kohlberg theory strongly criticized by Carol Gilligan who said that this theory is completely based on male sample group. Kohlberg theory is biased against women. Kohlberg’s theory is concerned with moral thinking but sometimes moral thinking may not lead to moral behaviour. Kohlberg’s most of the subject were children who had no experience about marriage. Thus this story is too abstract for these children to understand.

CONTINUE… Ø Kohlberg ignore some factors like compassion, caring, interpersonal feelings which may play an important part in moral reasoning. The End