Kohlberg's Three Levels and Six Stages of Moral Reasoning - Report Example

Kohlbergs three levels and six stages of moral reasoning Teacher Level Preconventional Morality Kohlberg posits that an individual’s moral development undergoes a process of stages and such process continues in the entire duration of an individual’s lifetime. Unlike other moral thinkers, Kohlberg is more concerned about the moral reasoning of an individual. He classified it into six stages which can be grouped into three levels of two stages each: pre-conventional, conventional and post-conventional (Kohlberg, 1973). The Preconventional Morality is Kohlberg’s earliest stage of moral reasoning and is the common moral reasoning employed by children when faced by moral dilemma. In this stage, children see morality as something external to themselves that authorities impose of what they should do. Stage One - Obedience and Punishment This is the stage where children associate morality with the fix rules handed down by people in authority that they should obey (Barger, 2000). The motivation of following the rules is the fear or to avoid punishment that will be meted when such rules will be disobeyed (Barger, 2000). For the child, the rules given by adults or persons in authority are fixed and absolute and their only sense of right. Kohlberg label this stage as “preconventional” because the child does not yet think as someone who belongs to a certain society. To illustrate this moral reasoning, we can illustrate a child named John who will go through Kohlberg’s stages of moral development as he grows up. Most likely, he is instructed by his mother not to get cookies from the cookie jar by himself but rather to ask for help. He knows that if he disobeys his mother, John will either be scolded or spanked which he does not want to happen so he ask his mother every time he wants a cookie. Stage Two - Individualism and Exchange In the stage two of Kohlberg’s moral development, the child realizes that the concept of right does not only come from person/s of authority nor is it fix or absolute. He realizes that different people have different points of view and that each of them pursues their interest in a manner that they interpret them. Applying this to our character named John, he realize that his parents have different way of parenting. His father is more of a disciplinarian while his mother tends to spoil him. He knows that both of his parents are terrific parents only that their parenting style is different. Thus, to get what he wanted such as eating a lot of chocolate after a meal that his father would not allow, he would ask permission from his mother instead of his father. Level 2: Conventional Moral Reasoning As the child grows up, he or she learns to conform to the expectation of society and the roles he or she should perform in such given society. At this stage, the person no longer thinks of himself or herself or solely but recognizes the existence of a larger society that he or she has to conform. This conventional moral reasoning has two stages and the first stage of conventional reasoning is to seek the approval of others while the second stage is is to respond to the obligation of duty (Barger, 2000). Stage Three - Interpersonal Relationships Interpersonal relationship in Kohlberg’s conventional moral reasoning is often referred to as the "good boy-good girl" orientation. In this stage of moral reasoning, the concept of right is to conform to the stereotypes and the values expectation of society or peers. The “good” or moral thing to do in this stage is to please or help others or conform with the majority (Pegasus.edu, nd). We can again cite our character John who is already in his early teenager years and is now beginning to have friends. In order to belong and be accepted by his chosen in-group, John conforms and strives to be amiable with his peers. For example, he may sport the same clothing, hairstyle, gadget or interest (sports, hobby etch) which his chosen group is in to. He also avoids argument and disagreements to maintain the harmony of the group. Stage Four - Maintaining Social Order In the second stage of conventional moral reasoning, people begin to consider beyond their group to think of the bigger society in their moral judgment. A person will still follow the rules but the moral reasoning is not out of fear of punishment but by performing one’s duty in society (Crain, 1985). In our character following the maintaining social order reasoning, John may set his limit in pleasing/conforming his peers when the group will do something that is against the law such engaging in gang fights. He may choose to leave his group or report them to authorities in his effort to perform his social duty. Level 3: Postconventional Moral Reasoning The third and last level of Kohlberg’s moral reasoning is motivated more by “sense of justice, dignity for all life and common Good (Pegasus.edu, nd). In this stage, an individual is moved by the understanding of social mutuality and a “genuine interest in the welfare of others” (Barger, 2000). Stage Five - Social Contract and Individual Rights In Kohlberg’s stage five of Social Contract and Individual Rights, people assess moral judgment by believing that society will best work if people can get into a social contract that would serve the benefit of all. It is in this stage that people will recognize the individuals and that people have differing value systems and perspectives but has two agree on two fundamental points that people must have fundamental rights such as liberty, life and security and second, that there should be some mechanism in changing unfair laws that would consequently improve society (Crain, 1985). In our character, John is beginning to realize that people around him interpret their world differently but each must respect the other for them to live harmoniously. John is beginning to take interest in national affairs and beginning to appreciate the concept of democracy and due process. Stage Six - Universal Principles While Kohlberg’s stage five makes individuals strive for a good society through social contract, his final level of moral reasoning posits on universal ethical principles to complement if not to complement social contract and individual rights. For Kohlberg’s final moral reasoning, he stresses that democratic process as what was suggested as a means to change laws that are unjust, do not always result in just outcomes. For Kohlberg, the “principles of justice require us to treat the claims of all parties in an impartial manner, respecting the basic dignity, of all people as individuals” (Crain, 1985). Thus for our character John, he may exercise this kind of moral reasoning in his middle age years after acquiring experiences that perfect his education. At this stage, he no longer always subscribe on the idea that democratic process will always produce just outcome to all parties concerned. He knows that the decision of the majority, which is essential in a democratic process, can act like a mob to commit injustice to the minority. He knows the lesson of the discrimination against African Americans was imposed by the democratic process of the predominantly white society and that while its process was democratic, it was in fact unjust and oppressive in its application. During this stage, John’s moral judgment is already fully developed. References Barger, R. (n.d.). KOHLBERGS THEORY OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT. KOHLBERGS THEORY OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT. Retrieved January 17, 2014, from http://www.csudh.edu/dearhabermas/kohlberg0 Crain, W. (n.d.). Kohlbergs Moral Stages.Kohlbergs Moral Stages. Retrieved January 16, 2014, from http://faculty.plts.edu/gpence/html/kohlberg. KOHLBERGS STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT. (n.d.). KOHLBERGS STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT. Retrieved January 19, 2014, from http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ncoverst/Kohlbergs%20Stages%20of%20Moral%20Development.htm Kohlberg, L. (1973). The Claim to Moral Adequacy of a Highest Stage of Moral Judgment. Journal of Philosophy, 70(18), 630–646. Read More