Kohlberg's moral development theory

• Kohlberg believe that our ideas of right and wrong develop through a series of levels and stages from childhood to adulthood.
• Kohlberg identified 3 levels and 6 stages of moral development.


  first level -characterises pre-adolescent children

  second- being reached by most adults

  third- only being reached by minority of adults.
• What does level 1 include in MDT?

  LEVEL 1- Pre-conventional/Pre-moral (preadolescent)

  Rules and social expectations are seen as being external to the person (egocentricism)

  
  

  stage 1- obedience and punishment orientation.

  Right actions consist of obedience to rules and punishments by those more powerful.

  
  

  stage 2- instrumental purpose and exchange.

  Right actions are what serves someones immediate interest, emphasising on meeting your own needs whilst recognising someone else's.
• What does level 2 include in MDT?

  LEVEL 2- Conventional (most adults)

  Rules and social expectations are internalised.

  
  

  stage 3- interpersonal accord and conformity.

  Right actions consists of living up to their expected roles.

  
  

  stage 4- social accord and system maintenance.

  Right actions consists of fulfilling their expected duties, upholding laws and contributing socially.
• what does level 3 include in MDT?

  LEVEL 3- Post-Conventional/Principled (Few adults) 

  Self and social rules/expectations are differentiated. The individual defines their own values from universal moral principles.

  
  

  stage 5- social contract

  Right actions are what upholds general rules and values as part of a social contract

  
  

  stage 6- universal ethical principles.

  Right actions are defined in terms of self chosen and universal ethical principles of justice, human rights and dignity
• How does MDT link to criminality?

  -Kohlberg argues that offending behaviour is associated with less moral development.

  -Delinquents are more likely to display pre-conventional reasoning.

  -This is due to them having a restricted ability to think in more complex moral terms which restricts individual decision-making and could be associated with rule-breaking.

  -Moral development is heavily influenced through the nature of interaction with peers, parents and others.
• What are the 4 parenting processes that may affect moral reasoning?

  -the type and extent of discipline used.

  -the extent and type of supervision.

  -the nature of interaction with the family.

  -Family structure (e.g. presence/ absence of parents)
• How is this theory used in practice?

  A large amount of intervention programmes have been developed which focus on an offenders' reasoning.

  These include parenting programmes, anger management or control training, and interventions such as 'Reasoning and Rehabilitation' programme in Canada or the 'Think First' program in England and Wales
• R&R

  Reasoning and Rehabilitation is a form of CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy) that directly addresses the thoughts leading to criminal behaviour and aims to help both adult and adolescents reframe these thoughts by teaching them these skills.

  -Lateral thinking (to address a problem from different angles)

  -Social skills

  -Values Education

  -Cognitive and Behavioural skills.

  -Critical thinking skills.
• Strengths of Kohlberg.

  -Some studies support delinquents having less mature stage of moral development.

  -Thornton and Reid found the theory to be truer for planned crimes such as theft and robbery than impulsive crimes like violence.
• Weaknesses of Kohlberg

  Focuses on moral thinking rather than moral behaviour. Someone may be perfectly capable of thinking morally, while acting immorally.