The Theory Of Moral Development Essay - 1398 Words

The theory of moral development was developed by psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg and is a very interesting subject that stemmed from Jean Piaget’s theory of moral reasoning. this theory helped us to develop the understanding that morality starts from the early childhood years and can be affected by several factors. This theory encompasses the ideas that moral reasoning, which is considered the basis for moral behavior, has six identifiable developmental stages. According to Kohlberg the six stages of moral development are obedience, and punishment, self-interest, interpersonal accord and conformity, authority and social-order maintaining, social contract and universal ethical principles. The six stages of moral development are grouped into three levels of morality: pre-conventional morality, conventional morality, and post-conventional morality. The pre-conventional consist of obedience and punishment orientation and Self-interest orientation which focuses on punishment and rew ards. The conventional morality level includes Interpersonal accord and conformity which concentrated on social norms and good attitude. The third level is post-conventional and it consist of social contract orientation and universal ethical principles. Kohlberg’s theory was based on a considerable amount of empirical research in which children of different ages were asked to reason about moral dilemmas (Maxwell 2014). The preconventional level displaces a child s perception of morality is controlledShow MoreRelatedThe Theory Of Moral Development1905 Words   |  8 Pages The theory on Moral Development is credited to none other than Lawrence Kohlberg. Kohlberg was a twentieth century psychologist dedicated his studies to research in moral development and reasoning, especially on young people (Absolute Astronomy, pg. 38). His theory was highly influenced by well-known swiss psychologist, Jean Piaget’s, stages of cognitive development (Absolute Astronomy, pg. 38). Jean Piaget’s theory contained four stages of cognitive development (Hart). Kohlberg’s theory is actuallyRead MoreThe Theory Of Moral Development2195 Words   |  9 PagesPART ONE Introduction: Moral development is the growth through which children evolve proper attitudes and behaviors toward other people in society, depend on social and cultural norms, rules, and laws. It focuses on the development, change and understanding of morality from infancy to adulthood. In the field of moral development, Molarity defined as the foundation of how individuals committed to treat one another with respect and justice. In other words, it is the evolution of understandingRead MoreThe Theory Of Moral Development2106 Words   |  9 PagesLawrence Kohlberg developed the theory of moral development. The theory of moral development â€Å"stemmed from Jean Piaget’s theory of moral reasoning.† This theory was a study which led to a better understanding of morality. This theory proved that morality started in early childhood years and had many factors which affected the outcome of the child’s perception of morality. Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory consisted of 3 levels and which each had 2 stages in them. The first level consists of preconventionalRead MoreThe Theory Of Moral Development1436 Words   |  6 Pagesthat there are 3-levels of Moral Development, as well as 6-stages within Moral Development. The 3-levels include pre-conventional morality, conventional morality, and post conventional morality. The 6-stages include obedience and punishment orientation, individualism and exchange, good interpersonal relationships, maintaining social order, social contract and individual rights, and universal principles (McLleod, 2011). This paper will discuss all 3-levels of moral development and where my ethical reasoningRead MoreKohlberg : Theory Of Moral Development997 Words   |  4 PagesLawrence Kohlberg: Theory of Moral Development Lawrence Kohlberg was a well known psychologist best known for his thorough research into the development and better understanding of the processes needed to grow into a well developed human being. Kohlberg grew up in New York City on October 25, 1927. Growing up in such a diverse area is what struck his interest in the development of all beings. In only one short year he received his bachelors degree and then went on to devote his career to study theRead MoreKohlbergs Theory of Moral Development1236 Words   |  5 PagesKohlbergs theory of moral development proposes a series of three levels, divided into two stages each, that characterize the moral reasoning of human beings. Kohlbergs theory represented an important contribution to the psychological study of moral reasoning and its effect on behavior, but it contains a number of flaws and problematic assumptions. In particular, Carol Gilligan argues that Kohlbergs theory contains an inherently masculine bias, and that its view of justice as a universal ethicalRead MoreThe s Theory Of Moral Development880 Words   |  4 Pagesout openly against the injustices of the church. Kohlberg s Theory of Moral Development states that, moral reasoning, the basis for ethical behavior, has six identifiable developmental stages, each more adequate at responding to moral dilemmas than its predecessor. Kohlberg s principle concern was justice, or an Ethic of Rights, that would lead persons on a path to truth. Using his model, one can trace Catherine s moral development from her adolescence through her later life. In the beginningRead MoreFour Moral Development Theories1825 Words   |  8 PagesFOUR MORAL DEVELOPMENT THEORIES Describe Jean Piaget’s Theory of Moral Development Jean Piaget is best known for his stage theory on moral development of children which occurs in two distinct stages from heteronomous to autonomous and three sub stages premoral (0 to 5 years), moral realism ( 5 to 10 years), and moral relativism (after age 10). In premoral development, children do not think about right or wrong. In the moral realism phase, children understand right and wrong. Lastly, in moral relativismRead MoreThe s Theory Of Moral Development897 Words   |  4 Pagesboth the attitudes and roles of men and women. She points to Carol Gilligan’s theory of moral development as an instance that provides an understanding of both males and females. Gilligan found that men are more rational when making decisions while women are more emotional (Andersen, 2015). Knowledge of a theory such as Gilligan’s shows how people can collectively undergo oppression if they do not follow what the theory prescribes. Another key point in the text is the vital relations hip among genderRead MoreKohlberg s Theory Of Moral Development And Moral Maturity Essay1305 Words   |  6 Pagesthe theory of stages of moral development and participated actively in the development of the fields of moral psychology and moral education. Kohlberg was especially inspired by Jean Piaget, a Swiss psychologist who created the theory of cognitive development. Mark Baldwin, John Dewey, and George Herbert Mead also influenced his thinking (Barger, 2000; Encyclopedia of Education, 2002). In this paper, I will analyze in-depth Kohlberg’s theory and discuss an article that uses Kohlberg’s theory to foster