5.2 Discussion. Exploring Moral Development

Getting Started

Let’s start with a simple definition of morality to help us understand what we are talking about in this discussion. Morality pertains to principles of right and wrong behavior. That sounds easy enough. When teaching a young child, it is fairly straightforward. Parents teach their children principles such as: you don’t hit other people, you don’t throw your food, you do say “please” and “thank you,” etc. But as the child grows older, life situations become more complicated. And it’s not always clear where the line between right and wrong behavior lies.

Here are some examples: A junior high student justifies cheating on an exam because his parents are threatening to take his phone if he fails another test. A college student sells his ADHD medication to friends because he needs the money to buy books. A mother who is late to pick up her son at childcare speeds through a subdivision at 50 mph when the posted speed limit is 25 mph. In each of these examples, the person justifies his or her choice because it brings about personal benefit. The persons in these examples do not believe the choices are immoral ones. But are they? We’ll take a closer look at these types of questions.

This shifting of moral standards and the thinking behind them is what the psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg studied. Kohlberg developed a theory of moral development that was outlined in six stages and contained three levels in those six stages. Level one represented the most basic type of moral behavior, with the most mature evidence of moral development in his third level. We assume that as a person ages their moral sensibilities also mature. But that is not always the case. According to Kohlberg, some people stay in the first level of moral development their entire lives. The question is: Why don’t some people mature in their moral reasoning capacity while others do?

Kohlberg developed his theory in the late 1950s and refined it for the rest of his career. Think back to Workshop Four and all the cultural turmoil that was going on politically, socially, and economically in the United States during the decade of the 1960s. As young people were practicing open use of drugs, sexual freedom, anti-war protests, and rebellion against authority, the question of morality was front and center. For example, during the Vietnam War, many Americans who were drafted to be soldiers opposed the war on moral grounds and fled to Canada rather than fight. Even though this behavior was against the law, these people decided that these particular laws did not follow the higher rules they believed in, and they chose to follow their higher rules instead of the law.

In this discussion, you will have the opportunity to explore Kohlberg’s theory of moral development by taking a close look at each of the stages and providing examples of what moral behavior looks like at each level. I think you will find great diversity in the opinions of your classmates about each of the questions.

Upon successful completion of this discussion, you will be able to:

· Explain the moral development process and how it applies to different individuals based upon behavior and choices.

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Resources

· Textbook: A History of Psychology: The Emergence of Science and Applications

· Article: Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

· Article: Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development (Chart)

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Background Information

The psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg was best known for his theory of moral development. His theory expanded upon and went beyond the work of Jean Piaget, whose work on the cognitive development of children served as the foundation for Kohlberg’s theory of morality.

Before participating in the discussion, read Chapter 17 from the course textbook and the article titled “Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development,” and study the chart “Kohlberg’s Stages of Development.” The combination of these resources will help you have a sound understanding of the stages of moral development and how they progressively increase in moral significance with each stage.

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Instructions

1. Read Chapter 17, “Beyond the Systems of Psychology,” in your textbook, A History of Psychology: The Emergence of Science and Applications.

2. On the Verywell Mind website, review:

a. “ Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development ”

b. “ Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development (Chart) ”

3. Navigate to the discussion topic and respond to the following discussion questions:

a. How would you describe the progression of morality from level 1 to level 2? How is that different than a progression from level 2 to level 3?

b. Give examples (without using names) of three people (one for each level) that illustrate how their behavior and choices match Kohlberg’s levels of morality.

c. What would a person who is showing evidence of a level 2 morality need to do to become more principled and move to a level 3 type of morality?

d. At what level (1, 2, or 3) would you place most Christians you know? Explain.

4. Your initial post:

a. Should be 400 to 500 words.

5. Your postings should also:

a. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.

b. Add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.