How do kids develop morality and ethical reasoning? Kohlberg’s phases of ethical growth describe a set course of via which kids develop ethical reasoning talents. The phases symbolize an enlargement of an earlier idea of ethical reasoning proposed by developmental psychologist Jean Piaget.
Kohlberg’s idea means that there are six phases of ethical growth that may be cut up into three distinct ranges. Ethical reasoning, Kohlberg believed, is centered across the idea of attaining justice.
The three ranges of ethical growth, the pre-conventional degree, the traditional degree, and the post-conventional degree, are every divided into 2 phases.
Kohlberg’s Six Phases of Ethical Growth
The three ranges and 6 phases of Kohlberg’s idea of ethical growth are:
Pre-Typical Stage
The pre-conventional degree is the earliest stage of ethical reasoning in Kohlberg’s idea. This era usually lasts up till round age 9.
Throughout this era, ethical judgments are primarily based on kids eager to obey authority figures and keep away from punishment. As ethical reasoning develops, kids start to base their ethical judgments extra on self-interest and rewards. This degree is split into two phases:
Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment
Through the first stage of ethical growth, children view authority figures because the supply of absolute energy. They obey guidelines to keep away from punishment and search to observe guidelines to take care of their very own bodily well-being.
Stage 2: Individualism and Trade
At this stage, kids start to acknowledge that there’s not only one proper view handed down by authorities. They perceive that completely different people have completely different viewpoints. Their ethical reasoning relies on the notion of reciprocity: they observe guidelines to serve their very own pursuits, however additionally they acknowledge that others have their pursuits too.
Typical Stage
The standard degree represents the second stage of ethical reasoning. It usually emerges throughout adolescence and into maturity.
On the typical degree, ethical judgments are influenced by societal norms, expectations, and the will to meet roles inside varied social teams.
At this degree, people start to internalize societal requirements and norms, and their ethical judgments are primarily based on sustaining social order and conforming to the expectations of others.
The standard degree consists of two phases:
Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships
At this stage, people worth interpersonal relationships and attempt to be perceived nearly as good and caring by others. They adhere to social norms and guidelines to achieve approval and preserve optimistic relationships with others. Conformity to societal expectations turns into essential as people search to meet their roles inside varied social teams.
Stage 4: Sustaining the Social Order
On this stage, people uphold societal legal guidelines and conventions. They acknowledge that sustaining social order and stability is essential. Ethical selections are primarily based on fulfilling duties, obligations, and legal guidelines set by society. People think about the general welfare of society and perceive the significance of social establishments in sustaining order and concord.
Submit-Typical Stage
The post-conventional degree of morality represents the very best stage of ethical reasoning. It’s usually noticed in late adolescence and maturity. Nonetheless, Kohlberg believed that not everybody reaches this stage of ethical growth.
At this degree, individuals transfer past typical societal norms and guidelines to develop their very own moral ideas and values primarily based on common ethical ideas.
Ethical judgments are primarily based on summary moral ideas and values that transcend particular cultural or societal norms. People display a excessive degree of autonomy. At this level, they replicate critically on ethical considerations. Reasoning is commonly primarily based on common ethical ideas designed to create a extra simply world.
Researchers have discovered that individuals on the post-conventional degree of ethical growth expertise higher blood circulation in part of the mind referred to as the frontostriatal system. Previous analysis has recommended that this a part of the mind is linked to ethical judgments and prosocial behaviors.
The post-conventional degree consists of two phases:
Stage 5: Social Contract and Particular person Rights
At this stage, people acknowledge that societal guidelines and legal guidelines are social agreements that promote the higher good. They perceive that legal guidelines may be modified if they’re unjust or don’t serve the most effective pursuits of society. People at this stage worth democratic ideas, human rights, and equality underneath the regulation. They search to stability the wants of people with the wants of society as a complete.
Stage 6: Common Ideas of Ethics
On this remaining stage, people develop a deep understanding of common moral ideas, reminiscent of justice, equality, and human dignity. They base their ethical selections on these ideas, no matter societal expectations or authorized constraints. People at this stage are keen to disobey legal guidelines that battle with their deeply held ethical beliefs and are ready to just accept the results of their actions.
Their ethical reasoning transcends cultural and societal boundaries, guided by a dedication to justice and human rights.
The Heinz Dilemma
One software that Kolberg used whereas creating his idea was an ethical drawback referred to as the Heinz dilemma. It entails a state of affairs the place a person named Heinz should determine whether or not to steal an costly drug to avoid wasting his dying spouse or let her die as a result of he can not afford the remedy.
Kohlberg used this dilemma as a software to check ethical reasoning and growth in people. It wasn’t the reply to the query that Kohlberg. As a substitute, he needed to know how individuals reasoned in regards to the morality of their selection.
On the Pre-conventional Stage:
In stage one, individuals deal with avoiding punishment, saying that Heinz mustn’t steal the drug as a result of he may go to jail.
In stage two, individuals think about the advantages to Heinz himself, saying that he ought to steal the drug as a result of it’s good for him to avoid wasting his spouse.
On the Typical Stage:
In stage three, individuals may emphasize sustaining social order and assembly the expectations of others, saying that Heinz ought to steal the drug as a result of it’s the suitable factor to do in response to societal norms.
In stage 4, individuals are extra more likely to attraction to obeying legal guidelines and respecting authority, saying that Heinz mustn’t steal the drug as a result of it violates social norms and expectations.
On the Submit-conventional Stage:
In stage 5, an individual may emphasize social contract and particular person rights, saying that Heinz ought to steal the drug as a result of saving a life is extra essential than respecting property rights.
In stage six, an individual may deal with common moral ideas, saying that Heinz ought to steal the drug as a result of it’s the morally proper factor to do no matter legal guidelines or societal norms.
By learning responses to the Heinz dilemma, Kohlberg developed his idea of ethical growth, which means that people progress via these phases as they mature and encounter extra complicated ethical dilemmas.
Criticisms of Kohlberg’s Idea of Ethical Growth
Kohlberg’s idea of ethical growth had an essential influence on our understanding of ethical growth, however it’s not with out criticism. A few of these critiques are inclined to middle on the next considerations:
Cultural Bias
Critics argue that Kohlberg’s phases of ethical growth replicate a Western, individualistic perspective and should not apply to people from non-Western cultures or collectivist societies the place completely different cultural norms and values affect ethical reasoning.
Gender Bias
Some critics contend that Kohlberg’s idea is biased towards males. Kohlberg’s analysis primarily centered on boys, and his phases of ethical growth might not totally seize the ethical reasoning of females, who might prioritize care-based ethics over justice-based reasoning.
Lack of Predictive Validity
Whereas Kohlberg’s idea describes the phases of ethical growth, it has been criticized for its restricted potential to foretell precise ethical habits. Some people might exhibit greater phases of ethical reasoning in hypothetical dilemmas however behave in another way in real-life conditions.
Ignores Context, Feelings, and Social Dynamics
Critics argue that Kohlberg’s idea over-emphasizes cognitive processes and summary ethical reasoning, neglecting ethical decision-making’s emotional and contextual elements.
Actual-life ethical dilemmas usually contain complicated feelings, social dynamics, and situational elements that Kohlberg’s idea might not totally tackle.
Kohlberg’s idea suggests a linear development via phases of ethical growth, however analysis has proven that ethical reasoning may be extra fluid and context-dependent. People might not at all times progress via all phases, and ethical growth might plateau or regress underneath sure circumstances.
In comparison with Different Theories
A number of different notable theories of ethical growth exist, every providing distinctive views on how people develop their ethical reasoning:
Carol Gilligan’s Idea of Ethical Growth
Gilligan proposed a substitute for Kohlberg’s idea, emphasizing care-based ethics over justice-based reasoning. She argued that women and girls usually prioritize caring relationships and interpersonal connections in ethical decision-making, in distinction to Kohlberg’s emphasis on summary ideas of justice.
Social Studying Idea
Developed by Albert Bandura, social studying idea means that ethical growth happens via observational studying, modeling, and reinforcement. People purchase ethical values and behaviors by observing the actions and penalties of others, notably vital position fashions of their social atmosphere.
Ethical Area Idea
Proposed by Elliot Turiel, area idea means that ethical reasoning develops in particular domains, reminiscent of ethical, social-conventional, and private domains. People differentiate between ethical guidelines (primarily based on notions of hurt, justice, and rights) and social conventions (primarily based on societal norms and expectations) as they navigate varied social contexts.
Ethics of Care Idea
Constructing on Gilligan’s work, the ethics of care idea emphasizes the significance of empathy, responsiveness, and interconnectedness in ethical decision-making. Developed by feminist students reminiscent of Nel Noddings, it highlights the ethical significance of relationships, caregiving, and contextually located judgments in moral dilemmas.
Key Factors to Keep in mind
- Kohlberg’s idea proposes six phases of ethical growth categorized into three ranges: pre-conventional, typical, and post-conventional, every representing completely different ranges of ethical reasoning.
- Kohlberg believed that people progress via these phases sequentially, with ethical reasoning changing into extra complicated and summary as they mature.
- Kohlberg’s idea emphasizes the position of cognitive growth and reasoning in shaping ethical judgments and decision-making processes.
- The speculation has been criticized for its cultural and gender biases, lack of predictive validity, and restricted consideration of emotional and contextual elements in ethical growth.
Associated studying:
Sources:
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