Moral Reasoning

Q: Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Reasoning and Criminal Behaviour

__Kohlberg__ stated that moral reasoning occurs through three levels. __Allen et al. (2001)__ concluded that criminals tended to have lower levels of moral reasoning.

Q: 3 Levels of Moral Reasoning (Kohlberg)

__Kohlberg__ developed 3 levels of moral reasoning, which he then broke into 6 stages.

Q: Evaluation of Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

There are two main criticisms regarding __Kohlberg’s__ theory of moral development. __Allen et al. (2001)__ concluded that criminals tended to have lower levels of moral reasoning.

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Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Reasoning and Criminal Behaviour

Kohlberg stated that moral reasoning occurs through three levels. Allen et al. (2001) concluded that criminals tended to have lower levels of moral reasoning.

Moral reasoning

According to Kohlberg people develop their moral reasoning as they get older, similar to Piaget's model of cognitive development.
He believed that moral reasoning improved with age and people were better able to understand the position of other people and society in general.
He investigated moral reasoning by presenting boys with moral dilemmas.

Kohlberg method

Kohlberg conducted his study on 72 boys aged 10, 13, and 16.
The participants were presented with 10 moral dilemmas and asked to state whether or not Heinz’s choice in each was justified.
- One of the more famous examples is the ‘Heinz dilemma’, in which Heinz steals life-saving medicine to save his dying wife.

Method

The boys were also asked to give the reasons behind their answers, from which Kohlberg developed his 3 levels of moral reasoning.
This progression occurs through a series of 3 levels broken into 6 stages.

3 Levels of Moral Reasoning (Kohlberg)

Kohlberg developed 3 levels of moral reasoning, which he then broke into 6 stages.

Level 1: Preconventional reasoning

Level 1: Preconventional reasoning
- 1) Most common in children - if a person is punished, then the action must be morally wrong.
  - In terms of the dilemma: Heinz should be punished for stealing.

Level 1: Preconventional reasoning

Level 1: Preconventional reasoning
- 2) The correct action is the one that best serves one’s own self-interest.
  - Heinz should steal the medicine to save his dying wife as that will make him happy.

Level 2: Conventional reasoning

Level 2: Conventional reasoning
- 3) The correct behaviour/action is one where other people will think positively about you.
  - Heinz steals the medicine to make his wife happy, that is what she expects of him.

Level 2: Conventional reasoning

Level 2: Conventional reasoning
- 4) It is important that people obey society’s laws and norms, this is crucial for a functioning society.
  - Heinz should not steal the medicine as it is breaking the law.
(Most people fall somewhere within level 2.)

Level 3: Postconventional reasoning

Level 3: Postconventional reasoning
- 5) The correct course of action is the one where the most people benefit and it is for the greater good of society.
  - Heinz should steal the medicine as everyone has the right to life.

Level 3: Postconventional reasoning

Level 3: Postconventional reasoning
- 6) The actions and behaviours of an individual are guided by universal and abstract principles of morality.
- These do not take into account individual situations.
  - Heinz should steal the medicine because life is always more important than the material value of something like medicine.

Evaluation of Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

There are two main criticisms regarding Kohlberg’s theory of moral development. Allen et al. (2001) concluded that criminals tended to have lower levels of moral reasoning.

Gender bias

The study was conducted with an all-male sample.
However Kohlberg generalised his findings to the entire population.
This demonstrates beta bias, whereby the differences between men and women are minimised.

Androcentric

His research focussed on males and male moral reasoning.
This means it is androcentric.
Gilligan (1982) stated that male-oriented ideas were the focus and that female moral approaches should have also been taken into account.

Allen et al. (2001)

Criminals tend to have lower levels of moral reasoning (Allen et al, 2001).
Criminals also tend not to progress through the stages in the same way of the majority of non-criminals.
Serious offenders (murderers and rapists) have different perspectives of moral reasoning than the norm.