...Psychological Review 2005, Vol. 112, No. 3, 629 – 649 Copyright 2005 by the American Psychological Association 0033-295X/05/$12.00 DOI: 10.1037/0033-295X.112.3.629 Toward a More Pragmatic Approach to Morality: A Critical Evaluation of Kohlberg’s Model Dennis L. Krebs and Kathy Denton Simon Fraser University In this article, the authors evaluate L. Kohlberg’s (1984) cognitive– developmental approach to morality, find it wanting, and introduce a more pragmatic approach. They review research designed to evaluate Kohlberg’s model, describe how they revised the model to accommodate discrepant findings, and explain why they concluded that it is poorly equipped to account for the ways in which people make moral decisions in their everyday lives. The authors outline in 11 propositions a framework for a new approach that is more attentive to the purposes that people use morality to achieve. People make moral judgments and engage in moral behaviors to induce themselves and others to uphold systems of cooperative exchange that help them achieve their goals and advance their interests. Keywords: moral development, cognitive development, cooperation, moral judgment After two decades of research on Kohlberg’s (1984) cognitive– developmental model of morality, we abandoned it in favor of a more pragmatic approach. In this article, we explain why. We identify problems with Kohlberg’s model, describe revisions aimed at solving them, and offer reasons why a new approach is necessary...
Words: 20773 - Pages: 84
...Assignment 2: Incorporating Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development into the Justice System Alichia Dunaway Strayer University Ethics and Leadership in Criminal Justice CRJ 220 Professor Judy Tompkins August 16, 2015 Abstract The perception of justice is an affiliation that exists between the citizens and the state. Justice means that the state treats every person equally and seeks to find resolution in disputes. This resolution is found on the basis of the detailed facts and is compared to intent criteria, rather than a biased determination. It is based upon the civil rights and duty of individual persons, particularly law enforcement officers. Law enforcement officers employ the concept of justice occasionally, but they are not constantly fair. Law enforcement officers make mistakes just like any other human being. Justice in law enforcement includes an extensive array of recruits and agencies. This includes victim services, the police, department of corrections, crime prevention, the probation and parole departments, and the court system. In order for law enforcement to uphold a general clarity of justice, officers are obliged to have power over the moral capability to legally enforce laws, as well as to continue with admiration that is articulated by the department and its operation. Also, justice includes officers that respect and uphold the rights of citizens. A potion they shall accept on and off the job. Additionally, officers must arrest suspects contained...
Words: 1336 - Pages: 6
...Kohlberg proposed six separate stages of moral development which he grouped together into three levels with the key points of this theory being that the stages are universal and invariant-people everywhere go through the same stages in the same order, each new stage represents a more equilibrated form of moral understanding resulting in a more logically consistent and morally mature form of understanding., each stage forms an organised whole-a qualitatively different pattern of moral understanding that is applied across all situations, and that moral maturity is achieved through biological maturation, disequilibrium, and gains in perspective taking. The first level is known as the pre-conventional level where children accept the rules of authority figures and judge actions by their consequences; actions that result in punishments are bad and those that bring rewards are good. Stage 1 of this level is the punishment and obedience orientation where this style of morality ignores the intentions behind a behaviour and focuses on obeying rules that enforced by punishment. The second stage to this level is the instrumental purpose orientation where children might view actions as right if they satisfy their own needs. The next level is the conventional level where individuals continue to believe that conformity to social rules is desirable but this is not out of self-interest but more so on maintaining a social order that is positive for all. The first stage is interpersonal cooperation...
Words: 1237 - Pages: 5
...develops. While Piaget described a process of moral development that occurred in only two stages, Kohlberg’s theory grew to include six stages within three different levels. Kohlberg proposed three these six stages and three levels that moral reasoning was a process that continued through an individual’s life. Level 1 of Kohlberg’s Moral Development is Preconventional Morality. It contains two stages. The first stage is Obedience and Punishment. This marks the earliest formation of moral development and is typically seen in young children though adults are also able to express this reasoning. In the first stage the individual sees rules as unchanging and absolute. Obeying the rules becomes a top priority because it is the only way to not be punished (Brans & Blu, 1998). The second stage of Level 1 is called Individualism and Exchange. Children begin to account for their own points of view. They also begin to judge actions based on intent as well as how the action serves the individual (Graham, et al., 2011). Reciprocity begins to be an option but only if the individual’s needs are also being met. Kohlberg’s second level is Conventional Morality. It contains stages 3 and 4. Stage 3 is Interpersonal Relationships. Sometimes referred to as the “good boy-good girl” orientation, this stage focuses on the individual adjusting morals and living up to societal rules and expectations. In this stage there is an emphasis placed on being nice and polite, while the individual begins to...
Words: 1841 - Pages: 8
...effective is Kohlberg’s stage theory of moral development in explaining moral reasoning and moral behaviour?’ Morality refers to the ‘principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behaviour’ (Oxford dictionary, 2013). Moral development focuses on the way morality changes from childhood to adulthood. It consists of two things; moral reasoning and moral behaviour. Moral reasoning is when an individual tried to work out the difference between right and wrong by using logic. This is a process that is undertaken by people daily in their lives when faced with dilemmas and they need to make a decision based on the morality of the action and what the consequences could be. Moral behaviour is the way people can behave depending on their moral reasoning. Moral behaviour consists of four components; moral sensitivity, moral judgement, moral motivation and moral character. Many theories have been developed on moral development. These theories are based on an individual’s level of cognitive maturity. This essay focuses on Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, and aims to discuss how effective Kohlberg’s stage theory of moral development is, in explaining moral reasoning and moral behaviour. Kohlberg Developed the moral development theory based on Piaget’s theory. Piaget believed that moral development was only a two-staged theory; the first stage of his theory was common in childhood and was called the ‘Heteronomous’ stage. The general idea was that...
Words: 1572 - Pages: 7
...CHANGING ETHICS Personal ethics is an individual's belief about morality or conscience .It defines one’s stand on what is right or wrong.This branch of ethics gradually develops since childhood and tend to emulate the things which are set as an moral value to us by our parents or guardians in the family. It can heavily be influenced from any major incident in our life. Personal ethics refers to the ethics that a person identifies with in respect to people and situations that they deal with in everyday life. Professional ethics defines adherence to rules and regulation. The individual is expected to follow religiously, the code of ethics framed by the organization .It can be heavily influenced by the culture of the organization but it cannot change as frequently as the personal ethics. Professional ethics refers to the ethics that a person must adhere to in respect of their interactions and business dealings in their professional life. PERSONAL ETHICS VERSUS PROFESSIONAL ETHICS A person's ethical code determines their views on right and wrong, and influences how they interact with other people. 1.Influences • Personal ethics depend largely on a person's background and life relationships and concern. They are also influenced by the experiences you had growing up with dilemmas such as lying, cheating or even violence. Personal ethics may change as you learn and experience more, they often retain much of this early influence. Professional ethics...
Words: 1032 - Pages: 5
...position, as well as those such as Film Recovery Systems that have been miserable failures. Reidenbach and Robin’s notion of corporate moral development is based on the American psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg’s conception of individual moral development (see Unit A3). Kohlberg has described moral development as moving through three main levels. Each level is divided into two stages, so there are six stages in all. Some individuals progress through all the stages, while others get “stuck” at the lower stages. Pre-conventional level (stages 1 and 2). At stage 1, the infant is initially motivated purely externally by fear of punishment, such as a spanking, and at stage 2 by a desire for rewards, such as a piece of candy. Conventional level (stages 3 and 4). Stage 3 is the “good-boy/nice-girl morality,” in which children seek their parents’ or peers’ approval. After this, an individual may move to stage 4, the “law and order stage,” in which great value is placed on following social rules. At this stage people have started to move beyond merely an egoistic motivation to one in which there is real concern for meeting standards for non-selfish reasons. Kohlberg believed that most adults remain at this stage. Post-conventional, autonomous, or principles level (stages 5 and 6). Here, one accepts moral rules not just because they are part of one’s society but because one knows that the rules are right. In stage 5, individuals see morality as a kind of contract between individuals...
Words: 588 - Pages: 3
...development depends on genetic contribution from gametes - x chromosome inactivation is one example of this factor at work, one of two x chromosomes is silenced by women, most of its genes don't synthesize properly; determins whether chromosomes will be inherited from mother or father - x chromosome inactivation is an example of an epigenetic modificatoin zygote stage - where zygote divides many times and the internal organs begin to form embryonic stage – of prenatal development (2-8) weeks - zygote= embryo, fast development, most susceptible to chemicals and toxins like rubella - teratogens: substances, agents and events that can cause birth defects gonads will become either ovaries or testies if testies present, begin to secret sex hormones called androgens; most important = testosteronel development of female sex organs occurs naturally; doesn't need hormones Fetal stage= seven months. bone cells and ends with birth, 3rd = organ, 4th = heartbeat Kisilevsky and colleagues- mothers voice = faster heartt rate of baby salapatek – 1-2 month babies their scanning strategy is limited to fixations on a few parts object 4 and 5 months – can descriminate between even very similar faces Critical period – time in development where certain experiences must occur for normal development sensitive period – a period of time during which certain expreinces have more of an effect on development than they would if they occurred at another time; second language ex. Watson and Ramey...
Words: 2035 - Pages: 9
...right and wrong. The superego provides guidelines for making judgments. According to Freud, the superego begins to emerge at around age five. For example, I know the way to go home from supermarket. Jean Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive Development This theory is study of cognitive development. Piaget’s Theory has some key ideas. In this theory, Piaget discussed adaption, classification, class inclusion, conservation, decentration, egocentrism, operation, and schema. Stage 1: The Sensorimotor stage (birth to 2 years old) During this stage, information is received through all the senses. The child tries to make sense of the world during this stage, and as the name suggests, only senses and motor abilities are used to do so. Stage 2: The Pre-operational Stage (2-7 years of age) The mental representation of the sensorimotor stage provides a smooth transition to semiotic functioning in the pre-operational stage. A child swinging their arms in a circular motion might represent the wheels on a train and sticking their arms out. Stage 3: The...
Words: 1409 - Pages: 6
...LAWRENCE KOHLBERG : Theory of Moral Development Objective * To know what are the stages of Kohlberg Theory and accurately apply it to specific moral issues WHO IS LAWRENCE KOHLBERG * Professor at Harvard University * He started as a developmental psychologist and then moved to the field of Moral Education. He was particularly well-known for his theory of moral development which he popularized through research studies conducted at Harvard’s Center for Moral Education. * His theory of moral development was dependent on the thinking of the Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget and American Philisopher John Dewey. * He was also inspired by James Mark Baldwin. These men had emphasizes that human beings develop philosophically and psychologically in a progressive fashion. * Kohlberg believed… and was able to demonstrate through studies that people progressed in their moral reasoning through a series of stages. He believed that there were six ( 6 ) identifiable stages which could be more generally classified into 3 levels. WHAT IS MORAL DEVELOPMENT? * Moral development involves thoughts, feelings and behavior regarding standards of right and wrong. * Consist of intrapersonal and interpersonal dimensions Heinz Dilemma Heinz’s wife was dying from a particular type of cancer. Doctors said a new drug might save her. The drug had been discovered by a local chemist and the Heinz tried desperately to buy some, but the chemist was charging ten times the money...
Words: 1028 - Pages: 5
...Blanca, Jan Marinie Padua, Carla May Statements of the Problem: This study aimed to compare the effects of cheating on the moral sensibility of criminology and education students in Union College. Introduction: Moral Sensibility as define refers to our response towards what is right or wrong. Because man is believed—by nature is good but morally weak, he endures all the temptations through his life. Cheating is considered as one of those as one of those which lower the moral sensibility of students, it is also a serious problem that has negative educational, social, and psychological effects. Educationally, cheating is contrary to the spirit if higher education, especially in developing and promoting moral values and attitudes. Socially, cheating is unacceptable behavior to get something with no right. Cheating is also not only affects students who cheated but also other students as it forces them to live in an unfair system. The good thing is that by learning the consequences of this action, students learn to value fairness and honesty even more. Psychologically, cheating may cause an instability in a student’s values, potentially resulting in serious psychological problems, such as feelings of being guilty and with shame but in our culture Filipino students strongly believed in “conscience” so they keep in mind that good grades must come from a good way. In reality, due to lack of review, notes and the confidents to take the examination fairly, students engaged to cheating. But...
Words: 2047 - Pages: 9
...Module code: HRPYC81 Research report for Project: 4805 Assignment number: 27 Title of Study: The Determinants Of Moral Development In Curbing Adolescents’ Moral Decay. Surname: Zondo Initials: G. L. Student number: 43097855 Examination period: October/November 2015 1 The Determinants Of Moral Development In Curbing Adolescents’ Moral Decay. Abstract The study explored the determinants of moral development in curbing adolescents’ moral decay. These determinants included identity development, gender, parental (mother) relationship with adolescent, and ethical and moral values. A mixed-model method (both quantitative and qualitative) was used to conduct the study. Participants were sampled through convenience sampling. The sample of a total of 1387 from the pooled data was used for the quantitative part of the research. While for the qualitative study a sample of 20 adolescents (10 boys and 10 girls) who were high-school students (in grade 10 and 11) from 12 to 18 years of age from Gebeni High School in Swaziland was used. The researcher aimed to investigate the extent of determinants of moral development in curbing adolescents’ moral decay and to make recommendations on the development of socialization structures to curb adolescents’ moral decay. Findings revealed that the determinants played a major role in adolescents’ moral development. However, further research is needed to be conducted with a lager sample for the qualitative study. 2 From a scholarly point of view...
Words: 8684 - Pages: 35
...of Business Ethics, Vol. 10, No. 4 (Apr., 1991), pp. 273-284 Published by: Springer Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/25058230 . Accessed: 16/09/2013 07:44 Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at . http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp . JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. . Springer is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Journal of Business Ethics. http://www.jstor.org This content downloaded from 202.125.103.33 on Mon, 16 Sep 2013 07:44:13 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions Conceptual Model Moral Development A of Corporate Donald R EricReidenbach P. Robin ABSTRACT: The conceptual model presented in this article argues that corporations exhibit specific behaviors that signal development. Accordingly, the authors identify five levels of moral development and discuss the that move corporations dynamics of corporate behavior another. Examples tive of of moral stages specific development from which one are level indica to their true level of moral their particular Such a stage of moral development. is useful...
Words: 8320 - Pages: 34
...Practice Essays: Exam 3 What are the four identity statuses in Marcia’s theory? Define each of the four statuses using the component of crisis and commitment. * Identity achievement Having already explored alternatives, identity-achieved individuals are committed to a clearly formulated set of self chosen values and goals. They feel a sense of psychological well-being, of sameness through time, and of knowing where they are going. When asked how willing she would be to give up going into her chosen occupation if something better came along, Darla responded, “Well, I might, but I doubt it. I’ve thought long and hard about law as a career. I’m pretty certain it’s for me.” * Identity moratorium Moratorium means “delay or holding pattern.” These individuals have not yet made definite commitments. They are in the process of exploring—gathering information and trying out activities, with the desire to find values and goals to guide their lives. When asked whether he had ever had doubts about his religious beliefs, Ramón said, “Yes, I guess I’m going through that right now. I just don’t see how there can be a God and yet so much evil in the world.” * Identity foreclosure Identity-foreclosed individuals have committed themselves to values and goals without exploring alternatives. They accept a ready-made identity chosen for them by authority figures—usually parents but sometimes teachers, religious leaders, or romantic partners. When asked if she had ever reconsidered...
Words: 2215 - Pages: 9
...Question 1: Identify the stakeholders and how they were affected by Heene's actions? The stakeholders in the “Balloon Ball Hoax” are the boy, Falcon Heene; the parents, Richard and Mayumi Heene, brothers, Bradford and Ryo Heene; Larimer County sheriff; Jim Alderman; Denver International Airport travelers and employees; National Guard unit; local police; search and rescue teams; media and news services; Colorado taxpayers; and the public. The public through the media watched and worried about the fate of the boy in the balloon. Colorado taxpayers footed the bill for the 50,000 USD cost of personnel time, equipment and other incidentals to track the balloon, search the rescue mission, and investigation of the hoax. Denver International Airport closed to avoid collision with the balloon. Travelers were delayed and flights rerouted and rescheduled. Airport employees had to remain calm and courteous as travelers became frustrated with delays, missed flight times and rescheduling. Local police, the National Guard unit, and search and rescue teams spent hours and used expensive equipment to track and hunt for the balloon and boy while Falcon was safe the whole time. Sheriff Jim Alderman had to conduct investigation under intense media scrutiny. At first, the media was incredulous that the parents were being questioned and investigated. Then Mr. Alderman was ridiculed for not detecting the hoax sooner. Falcon Heene was used by his parents to pull out the hoax that he was on a hot...
Words: 949 - Pages: 4
