developmental theories

Kohlberg 's Theory of Moral Development Kohlberg 's Theory of Moral Development

Lawrence Kohlberg was a gifted psychologist who lived from 1927-1987 and taught at the University of Chicago and Harvard . Although he became afflicted with a tropical disease and later died at 60 presumably a suicide the years preceding his death were spent most constructively studying moral development in children . Through his research of how children develop moral codes , he made a great contribution in the field of moral development

The Swiss psychologist Piaget was the model from which Kohlberg

based his theories

In Piaget 's model there are two stages of moral development . Children younger than 10 or 11 see rules as absolute fixed . These rules are handed down by adults or God authorities that are not to be questioned They cannot be changed . Children older than 10 or 11 are more relativistic , realizing that rules are not absolute and they can be changed . While the younger children see only consequences , the older ones see also intentions . There are a distinct series of changes between the ages of 10 and 12 (Piaget 's Stages of Moral Development , 1

However , Piaget stopped at two stages of moral development while Kohlberg 's research went further . He developed six stages . Still Piaget 's equilibration method of inducing cognitive conflict-where the child assumes one perspective , becomes confused by discrepant information , then resolves conflict by creating a more advanced and comprehensive perspective ,-was the precise model which Kohlberg used This method is a dialectic process of Socratic teaching in which students provide a view , the teacher asks questions to reveal the inadequacy of the view , then the students are motivated to formulate better positions (Kohlberg 's Moral Stages , 1

While an admirer of Piaget 's , Kohlberg 's stage of moral thinking are more detailed

He demonstrated that children do not develop because they are shaped by external reinforcements rather , their motivation is more internal . They develop because their curiosity is aroused . And while some children stop at early stages of development , frequently stage 3 ,others are able to progress to stage 6 , achieving a post conventional level of moral thinking in which they no longer accept their own society as given , but think reflexively and autonomously about what a good society should be Thus , the moral thinking progresses continuously in reference to the latter students , while it levels off in the previous ones .By interviewing children about moral dilemmas , Kohlberg 's research also showed that the children developed well into adolescence and early adulthood (Crain , 118-122

In Kohlberg 's Six Stages of Moral Development , the sequence unfolds in the following manner

LEVEL I - Preconventional morality . Morality is seen as external to the self

Stage 1 :Obedience and punishment oriented

Stage II : Individuation and Exchange . There begins a recognition that

there is not just one right view handed down by the authorities

Different individuals have different viewpoints

LEVEL 2- Conventional morality

Stage III : Good interpersonal relationships . People should live up to

expectations of their...