Developmental Psychology Cognitive & Moral Development

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development Higher cognitive abilities allows for “deeper moral processing”

Moral Dilemma Two morals or two “rights” pitted against one another –Interested in reasoning, not behavior

Moral Dilemma: What do you think? In Europe a woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctor’s thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times what the drug cost him to make. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2,000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman’s husband, Heinz went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could only get together $1,000 which is half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said, “No, I discovered the drug, and I’m going to make money from it.” So Heinz got desperate and broke into the man’s store to steal the drug for his wife.

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development Level 1: Preconventional Morality Stage 1: Punishment & Obedience Orientation The child decides what is wrong on the basis of what is punished. Obedience is valued for its own sake, but the child obeys because the adults have superior power. Stage 2: Instrumental Hedonism Orientation The child follows rules when it is her immediate interest. What is good is what brings pleasant results.

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development Level 2: Conventional Morality Stage 3: Good Boy/Good Girl Orientation Moral actions are those that live up to the expectation of the family or other significant group. “Being good” becomes important for its own sake. Stage 4: Law and Order Orientation Moral actions are those so defined by larger social groups or the society as a whole. One should fulfill duties one has agreed to and uphold laws except in extreme cases.

Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development Level 3: Postconventional Morality Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation Acting to achieve the “greatest good for the greatest number.” The teenager or adult is aware that most values are relative and laws are changeable, although rules should be upheld to preserve social order. Stage 6: Principled Conscious Orientation The adult develops and follows self-chosen ethical principles in determining what is right. These ethical principles are part of an articulated integrated, carefully thought-out and consistently followed system of values and principles.

Developmental Course Childhood: Level 1 Adolescents : Level 2 Adult: Level 2 (Level 3?!)

Write an answer for stage_____ There was a woman who had very bad cancer, and there was no treatment known to medicine that would save her. Her doctor, Dr. Jefferson, knew that she had only about 6 months to live. She was in terrible pain, but she was so weak that a good dose of a pain killer like ether or morphine would make her die sooner. She was delirious and almost crazy with pain, and in her calm periods she would ask Dr. Jefferson to give her enough ether to kill her. She said she couldn’t stand the pain and she was going to die in a few months anyway. Although he knows that mercy killing is against the law, the doctor thinks about granting her request.

Evaluating Kohlberg Morality is cognitive? Bias (Culture & Gender-Carol Gilligan) Overlap in people’s stages Attitude vs. Action