Overview
This lecture introduces Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development, tracing its background, key influences, and defining his six stages using the Heinz dilemma as an example.
Lawrence Kohlberg and Moral Development
- Lawrence Kohlberg was a psychologist born in 1927, known for studying moral development.
- Moral development examines how individuals think about moral issues and determine right from wrong.
- Kohlberg was inspired by Jean Piaget, another developmental psychologist who focused on cognitive development.
Jean Piaget’s Influence
- Piaget identified two stages of moral development: younger children see rules as absolute, older children view rules as flexible and for social harmony.
- Kohlberg expanded on Piaget's work by proposing six stages of moral development.
The Heinz Dilemma
- Heinz's dilemma is a scenario used by Kohlberg to assess moral reasoning: Should Heinz steal a drug he cannot afford to save his dying wife?
- People's responses to the dilemma indicate their stage of moral development.
Kohlberg’s Six Stages of Moral Development
- Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment — Children obey rules to avoid punishment; authority dictates right and wrong.
- Stage 2: Individualism and Exchange — Individuals realize different people may have different perspectives and interests; right is what meets personal needs.
- Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships — Emphasis on living up to expectations of family and community, with focus on empathy and compassion.
- Stage 4: Maintaining Social Order — Upholding laws and rules to keep society functioning properly and avoid chaos.
- Stage 5: Social Contract and Individual Rights — Laws are seen as social contracts; focus on basic human rights and the greater good.
- Stage 6: Universal Principles — Originally proposed as a stage based on universal ethical principles, but later discarded by Kohlberg as impractical.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Developmental Psychology — The study of how the brain and behavior develop over a lifespan.
- Moral Development — The process of learning to distinguish right from wrong and developing ethical reasoning.
- Cognitive Development — How people perceive, think, and understand the world through mental processes.
- Heinz Dilemma — A hypothetical case illustrating moral conflict, used to assess moral reasoning stages.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the six stages of Kohlberg’s moral development theory.
- Reflect on your own response to the Heinz dilemma and identify which stage it fits.
- Prepare to discuss examples of moral dilemmas in the next class.