Kohlberg

• Kohlberg's Aim


  To investigate moral development with 10-28 year olds
• Kohlberg's Method


  Longitudinal research using a self-report method
• Kohlberg's Sample


  75 10-16 year old boys from Chicago that were followed for 12 years. Also included boys in Canada, Taiwan and Mexico
• Kohlberg's Procedure


  The boys were presented with a moral dilemma and their solution, and explanation of their solution, was used to create the stages of moral development
• Kohlberg's Pre-conventional Stages of Moral Development


  Stage One: individual is good in order to avoid being punished

  Stage Two: children start acting out of self interest
• Kohlberg's Conventional Stages of Moral Development


  Stage Three: individual is good in order to be seen as being a good person by others

  Stage Four: individual becomes aware of the wider rules of society, so judgments concern obeying the rules in order to uphold the law and to avoid guilt
• Kohlberg's Post-Conventional Stages of Moral Development


  Stage Five: individual becomes aware that while laws might exist for the good of the greatest number, there are times when they will work against the interest of particular individuals

  Stage Six: people at this stage have developed their own set of moral guidelines which may or may not fit the law
• Kohlberg's Results


  There were differences in pace of moral development but no change in sequence. 50% of a participant's responses determined which stage they were in
• Kohlberg's Conclusion


  There is a universal sequence of stages to moral development