Kohlberg

• background

  • inspired by Piagets theory to apply a structural approach to moral development
  • he provided a systematic 6 stage sequence of development which reflected changes in moral judgement
  • development proceeds from a selfish desire to avoid punishment to a concern for society
  • deductive research
• aim - to investigate development in moral reasoning throughout adolescence
• sample

  • 75 American boys
  • aged 10-16
  • range of economic backgrounds
• method

  • longitudinal study
• procedure

  1. every 3 years the boys were interviewed and asked questions covering 25 moral themes. such as value of human life
  2. the most famous dilemma was the Heinz dilemma
• results

  • ps showed progress through the stages with increased age (Tommy began age 10 with stage 1 reasoning, age 16 stage 3 reasoning)
  • not all ps progressed through all the stages
  • ps progressed through the stages one at a time and always in the same order
  • economic wealth plays a role in the development of moral, the wealthier develop faster
• conclusions

  • each stage of moral development occurs one a time and always in the same order, an individual may stop at any given stage and any give age but moral development is universal
• preconventional level

  • stage 1 - punishment orientation, fear of physical consequences
  • stage 2 - self interest, aim to get the best outcome for oneself
• conventional level

  • stage 3 - good boy orientation, conforming with others
  • stage 4 - authority orientation, following the rules
• post conventional

  • stage 5 - social contract orientation, laws and values are important
  • stage 6 - conscious and ethical principles, justice quality and human life are the most important things
• strengths

  • Longitudinal method- we have a deeper understanding of how one person develops their morals we can apply our findings
  • Ethics- protection from harm followed as boys are tested every 3 years and psychologically examined.
• weakness

  • Historical validity- the study was first completed in 1968, therefore the results may no longer apply to current generations 
  • Androcentric.