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Stages of Moral Development

Introducing Kohlberg’s theory of moral development

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Developing Through the Life Span

Kolberg’s Theory of Moral Development

Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Develeopment

Chapter 4

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Adolescence

Life between childhood and adulthood.

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Brain Development

Until puberty, neurons increase their connections. However, at adolescence,

selective pruning of the neurons begins. Unused neuronal connections are lost to

make other pathways more efficient.

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Morality

As our thinking matures, so does our behavior in that we become less selfish and more caring. People who engage in doing the right thing develop empathy for others and the self-discipline to resist their own

impulses.

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Kohlberg 3 Basic Levels of Moral Thinking

1. Preconventional Morality: Before age 9, children show morality to avoid punishment or gain reward.

2. Conventional Morality: By early adolescence, social rules and laws are upheld for their own sake.

3. Postconventional Morality: Affirms people’s agreed-upon rights or follows personally perceived ethical principles.

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In Europe, a woman was near death from a very bad In Europe, a woman was near death from a very bad disease, a special kind of cancer. There was one drug disease, a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was from a that the doctors thought might save her. It was from a radium that a druggist in the same town has recently radium that a druggist in the same town has recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging 10 times what the drug cost druggist was charging 10 times what the drug cost him to make. He paid $200 for the radium and him to make. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick charged $2000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman’s husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to woman’s husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could get together only borrow the money, but he could get together only about $1000. He told the druggist that his wife was about $1000. He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. Bt the druggist said, “no, I discovered the drug later. Bt the druggist said, “no, I discovered the drug and I’m going to make money from it.” Heinz got and I’m going to make money from it.” Heinz got desperate and broke into the druggist’s store to steal desperate and broke into the druggist’s store to steal the drug for his wife.the drug for his wife.

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Preconventional MoralityPreconventional Morality 1.  Avoids punishment—“Heinz’s father-in-1.  Avoids punishment—“Heinz’s father-in-

law might make big trouble for him if he let law might make big trouble for him if he let his wife die.”his wife die.”

2.  Gains rewards—“Heinz will have 2.  Gains rewards—“Heinz will have someone to fix fine dinners for him if his wife someone to fix fine dinners for him if his wife lives.”lives.”

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Conventional MoralityConventional Morality 3.  Gains approval/avoids disapproval3.  Gains approval/avoids disapproval

—“What would people think of Heinz if he —“What would people think of Heinz if he lets his wife die?”lets his wife die?”

4.  Does duty to support society/avoids 4.  Does duty to support society/avoids dishonor or guilt—“Heinz must live up to his dishonor or guilt—“Heinz must live up to his marriage vow of protecting his wife.”marriage vow of protecting his wife.”

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Postconventional MoralityPostconventional Morality 5.  Affirms agreed-upon rights—“Everyone 5.  Affirms agreed-upon rights—“Everyone

agrees that people have the right to live.”agrees that people have the right to live.” 6.  Abstract, autonomous moral principle6.  Abstract, autonomous moral principle

—“Saving a life takes precedence over —“Saving a life takes precedence over everything else, including the law.”everything else, including the law.”