YOUR ANTEDOTE TO PSYCHOLOGY!

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development

Although it has been questioned as to whether it applied equally to different genders and different cultures, Kohlberg’s (1973) stages of moral development is the most widely cited. It breaks our development of morality into three levels, each of which is divided further into two stages:

Preconventional Level (up to age nine):

     ~Self Focused Morality~

1. Morality is defined as obeying rules and avoiding negative consequences. Children in this stage see rules set, typically by parents, as defining moral law.

2. That which satisfies the child’s needs is seen as good and moral.

Conventional Level (age nine to adolescence):

     ~Other Focused Morality~

3. Children begin to understand what is expected of them by their parents, teacher, etc. Morality is seen as achieving these expectations.

4. Fulfilling obligations as well as following expectations are seen as moral law for children in this stage.

Postconventional Level (adulthood):

     ~Higher Focused Morality~ 

5. As adults, we begin to understand that people have different opinions about morality and that rules and laws vary from group to group and culture to culture. Morality is seen as upholding the values of your group or culture.

6. Understanding your own personal beliefs allow adults to judge themselves and others based upon higher levels of morality. In this stage what is right and wrong is based upon the circumstances surrounding an action. Basics of morality are the foundation with independent thought playing an important role.

Quiz:  Personality Development

1.The initial struggle between autonomy and shame and doubt occurs around the ages of one and three according to Erikson..
    True
    False

2.

Freud's theory of psychosexual development has six stages that occur in the same order for all children.
    True
    False

3.

The Oedipus Complex is resolved at the beginning of the genital stage.
    True
    False

4.

Freud's Structural Model is made up of the id, ego, and superego.
    True
    False

5. 

The vast majority of what we have experienced is stored in the unconscious according to Freud.
    True
    False

6.

Finding a way to do something that is typically unacceptable in an acceptable manner is called sublimation.
    True
    False

7.

Ego defense mechanisms are almost always unhealthy no matter how they are used.
    True
    False

8.

Object Permanency refers to a child's ability to understand that objects can exist outside of their immediate awareness.
    True
    False

9.

Erikson is to sexual development as Freud is to social development.
    True
    False

10.

Individuals who are focused on the punishment or rewards of their behavior are considered by Kohlberg to be in the preconventional level of morality..
    True
    False

---

Quiz:  Learning and Behavioral Theory

1.B. F. Skinner is considered the father of behaviorism.
    True
    False

2.

In the original classical conditioning experiments, the sound of the bell is considered the conditioned response.
    True
    False

3.

In the original classical conditioning experiments, the salivation after being presented with food is considered an unconditioned response.
    True
    False

4.

In Operant conditioning, the response comes after the consequence.
    True
    False

5. 

Positive reinforcement refers to adding something positive in order to increase the probability of a behavior occurring.
    True
    False

6.

Negative reinforcement refers to the adding of something negative in order to reduce the probability of a behavior occurring.
    True
    False

7.

Slot machines work well because they are based on a variable ratio schedule of reinforcement.
    True
    False

8.

Not using a candy machine again after losing money one time represents a major problem with variable interval schedules of reinforcement.
    True
    False

9.

The experiments in classical conditioning were originally developed by Ivan Pavlov after accidentally stumbling on the phenomenon.
    True
    False

10.

Conditioning could be considered synonymous with learning in that a conditioned response occurs only after it has been learned.
    True
    False

---

Level 1. Preconventional Morality

• Stage 1 - Obedience and Punishment
  The earliest stage of moral development is especially common in young children, but adults are also capable of expressing this type of reasoning. At this stage, children see rules as fixed and absolute. Obeying the rules is important because it is a means to avoid punishment.

• Stage 2 - Individualism and Exchange
  At this stage of moral development, children account for individual points of view and judge actions based on how they serve individual needs. In the Heinz dilemma, children argued that the best course of action was the choice that best-served Heinz’s needs. Reciprocity is possible at this point in moral development, but only if it serves one's own interests.

Level 2. Conventional Morality

• Stage 3 - Interpersonal Relationships
  Often referred to as the "good boy-good girl" orientation, this stage of moral development is focused on living up to social expectations and roles. There is an emphasis on conformity, being "nice," and consideration of how choices influence relationships.

• Stage 4 - Maintaining Social Order
  At this stage of moral development, people begin to consider society as a whole when making judgments. The focus is on maintaining law and order by following the rules, doing one’s duty and respecting authority.

Level 3. Postconventional Morality

• Stage 5 - Social Contract and Individual Rights
  At this stage, people begin to account for the differing values, opinions and beliefs of other people. Rules of law are important for maintaining a society, but members of the society should agree upon these standards.

• Stage 6 - Universal Principles
  Kolhberg’s final level of moral reasoning is based upon universal ethical principles and abstract reasoning. At this stage, people follow these internalized principles of justice, even if they conflict with laws and rules.

Criticisms of Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development:

• Does moral reasoning necessarily lead to moral behavior? Kohlberg's theory is concerned with moral thinking, but there is a big difference between knowing what we ought to do versus our actual actions.

• Is justice the only aspect of moral reasoning we should consider? Critics have pointed out that Kohlberg's theory of moral development overemphasizes the concept as justice when making moral choices. Factors such as compassion, caring and other interpersonal feelings may play an important part in moral reasoning.

• Does Kohlberg's theory overemphasize Western philosophy? Individualistic cultures emphasize personal rights while collectivist cultures stress the importance of society and community. Eastern cultures may have different moral outlooks that Kohlberg's theory does not account for.