Kohlberg's Theory Of Reasoning

1127 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Kohlberg's stages of moral reasoning

In this paper, I will use Kohlbergs theory to explain his thought process on his three different levels of moral reasoning. I will explain how different levels of reasoning may effect how an individual makes a decision when it comes to their personal moral dilemmas, and how they justify that decision, which has no favourable outcome no matter what is decided. The three levels of Kohlbergs moral reasoning which contain two substages each are; the pre-conventional level, which includes stages one and two, the conventional level with stages three and four, as well as the post-conventional level which entails stages five and six. In this paper I will also demonstrate the different thought processes at each level and stage of Kohlbergs theory …show more content…

If a good behaviour is rewarded, it is likely to be repeated. If an unfavourable behaviour is punished, it is less likely to be repeated. Usually children and young teens tend to be at this level. Stage one of Kohlbergs theory of reasoning, is obedience to authority. If Heinz were in this first stage he may take the law into consideration and decide not to steal the medicine knowing it would be illegal. He may understand that if he steals the medicine, he will be caught and put in jail. Because of this punishment, Heinz may decide against stealing the medicine. The second stage to the pre-conventional level, involves looking out for our own individual needs and set good behaviour for future favours. This could mean exchanging good behaviour for rewards, or in Heinz’ circumstance, he could offer to pay the remaining cost of the medicine with his …show more content…

Individuals at this level are aware that what they truly believe based on their moral compass, can go against others’ beliefs and against authority and law as well. Stage five of the post-conventional theory, involves justifying a decision based on social contracts. Heinz at stage five could justify his decision to steal by reiterating his marriage vows that he took with his wife, to always protect her until death do they part. Heinz may feel that it is his marital duty to do whatever it takes to protect his wife. Even if it means breaking a law, or risking his reputation.
At stage six of the post-conventional level of moral reasoning, individuals solely act on what they believe is the right thing to do based on their internal, personal moral compass. At this stage, consequence is not a factor. Heinz may feel that saving his wife’s life takes precedence over any consequence, so he will do whatever he has to, to ensure that she gets

Show More
Related

  • Rule Consequentialism And Kantian Ethics

    990 Words  | 2 Pages

    The basis of this paper is centered around two somewhat conflicting moral theories that aim to outline two ways of ethical thinking. The theory behind both rule consequentialism and Kantian ethics will be compared and evaluated. These theories can then be applied to a relatively complex moral case known as the “Jim and the Indians” example.

    Read More

  • Judging One's Moral Worth in Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen Uses

    560 Words  | 2 Pages

    To judge one’s moral worth for his or her actions is a very important task. In the play, Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen, the main character, Dr. Stockmann performs in what many would consider a good, but moral worth is not determined by someone making a 10 second analysis of the actions and determining it. In order to determine moral worth, one can use Immanuel Kant’s book, Grounding for a Metaphysics of Morals. Within this book, Kant describes how one’s actions can be determined for the purpose of moral worth. Kant goes into detail and uses the cognitive imperative and other ways to determine moral worth.

    Read More

  • Moral Reasoning by Laura Kaplan

    1218 Words  | 3 Pages

    Rest, J., Narvaez, D., Bebeau, M., & Thoma, S. (1999). Postconventional moral thinking: A neo-Kohlbergian approach. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Read More

  • Homeless Hotspots Case Study

    924 Words  | 2 Pages

    moral decisions, we will be analyzing why this scenario poses a dilemma, possible actions that

    Read More

  • My Ethical Framework: Bernard Lonergan And Robert Kegan

    1464 Words  | 3 Pages

    In everyday experience one is likely to encounter ethical dilemmas. This paper presents one framework for working through any given dilemma. I have chosen to integrate three theories from Ruggerio Vicent, Bernard Lonergan and Robert Kegan. When making a deceison you must collabrate different views to come to a one conclusion. Ruggerio factors in different aspects that will take effect. Depending on which order of conciousness you are in by Kegan we can closely compare this with Ruggerio's theories also. As I continue I will closely describe the three theories with Kegan and how this will compare with Lonerga's theory combining the three. While Family,

    Read More

  • Sally's Prescriptive Moral Theory

    1421 Words  | 3 Pages

    middle of paper ... ... Essentially, the only fault being addressed is the conflicting action, as a conflict no longer occurs. Objections remain based on the inclusion of moral agents exclusively and the promotion of an individual’s goals, while introducing the additional problem of self-interest that accompanies prominent autonomy. The theory remains at fault, as it cannot be adequately amended by a single change.

    Read More

  • Psychology of Altruism and Morality

    732 Words  | 2 Pages

    moral development. In these stages, Kohlberg concentrates on the reasons why people act the way they do; not the way they think about their actions or what action they take, but the reasoning behind their actions.

    Read More

  • Sociological Theories of Deviance

    773 Words  | 2 Pages

    ... value system. For example, we can compare a middle class man who has a career and is living in the suburbs with his family, and a homeless man living in the ghetto with no ties or bonds with anyone. The man that “has nothing to lose” is more likely to commit deviant acts, due to his lacking in a career, possessions, and close bonds in a community. The homeless man would feel more free to deviate, versus the middle class man that has a status to uphold to, and a family to tend to.

    Read More

  • Kohlberg's Theory Of Cognitive Development

    155 Words  | 1 Pages

    Any developmental theory is based on the idea that a child has to reach a certain level of cognitive development before they can understand certain ideas or conceptions. What it means to be a girl or a boy and the full implications that follows. Kohlberg’s Cognitive-Developmental Theory of Gender proposed that all children experience three stage during the process of gender development and identity. These three stage occur at different ages such at the age of two which is the “Gender Identity” stage Kohlberg states that children can correctly label themselves as a boy or girl but may still think it is possible to change gender. The second stage occurs at the age of four and is known as the “Gender Stability” stage. In this stage children become

    Read More

  • Moral Theory and Personal Relationships

    4175 Words  | 9 Pages

    Stocker highlights the constraints that motives impose on both ethical theory and the ethical life in order to show that only when justifications and motives are in harmony can people lead the good life. Stocker believes that mainstream ethical theories, like consequentialism and deontology, make it impossible for people to reconcile their reasons and motives because these theories demand that people perform acts for the sake of duty or for the good, as opposed to because they care about the people who are affected by their actions.

    Read More

  • Lawrence Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

    2169 Words  | 5 Pages

    Kohlberg’s theory of the stages of moral development has gained some popularity despite being controversial. The claim that the levels form a “ladder,” the bottom being the immature child with a pre-conventional level and the top being a post conventional ethical individual. The sequence is unvarying and the subject must begin at the bottom with aspirations to reach the top, possibly doing so. (7) Research confirms that individuals from different cultures actually progress according to Kohlbergs theory, at least to the conventional level. Kohlberg’s stages of moral development continue to provide a foundation for psychology studies of moral reasoning. (6)

    Read More

  • Critical Analysis Of Ethical Blindness

    760 Words  | 2 Pages

    Unit I In the article "Ethical Blindness", the writers examine how sometimes choices are frequently made without the individual notwithstanding knowing about it. The choices can be a consequence of an association between individual qualities of the person and attributes of the circumstance. Most research on ethical decision making still expands on the suspicion that choices are made by reasonable people. The rationality presumption is shown different ways. The traditionally moral logic, business ethicists more often than not expect that there is an ethical perspective from which ethicality of a choice can be assessed. It is comprehended that the ethical perspective can be translated in an unexpected way, contingent upon the particular background philosophy, yet they share the presumption that there is a target and unprejudiced line that individuals can use to measure contentions and achieve an answer. An example of this would be that some managers use different philosophical lenses when making a decision – reflecting

    Read More

  • Virtue Ethics Approach

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    No decision procedure – moral decision making is too complicated to have a single criterion for decision

    Read More

  • The Theories of Piaget and Kohlberg

    1064 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kohlberg views the person as able to actively interact with his or her environment. While the individual cannot fully change the environment, the environment can fully mold the individual. A person’s actions are the result of his or her feelings, thoughts, behaviors, and experiences, and thus Kohlberg’s theory stresses the importance of the element of nurture. The two theories are similar in that both believe that the stages of development are hierarchical in that later stages of development build on earlier ones. Furthermore, both theorists believed that the stages of development imply qualitative differences in children’s thinking and ways of solving problems (Bissell).

    Read More

  • Piaget's Stages Of Cognitive Development

    1857 Words  | 4 Pages

    But, it is unattainable because of its price, so Heinz steals it. The question is whether or not he should have broken into the lab to steal the drug, and why it is or is not justified. My sister showed that she is in the conventional stage of morality, because she was focused on the law and the fact that his actions were illegal, despite the fact that the drug was necessary for Heinz’s wife’s survival. Being older, my dad and grandma appeared to be in the postconventional morality stage, because they both argued that his wife’s life was more important than the law and that it was unfair of the scientist who priced the drug to make it so unaffordable in the first

    Read More

More about Kohlberg's Theory Of Reasoning

Open Document