Kohlberg’s Six Stage Model of Moral Reasoning.
Kohlberg’s Six Stage Model of Moral Reasoning.
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Reasoning is presented as a framework to assist you to better understand the development of moral judgment and moral courage. Kohlberg has identified 3 levels to moral reasoning and within each of the levels are two stages. The levels are composed of: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional. Kohlberg also explains most adults may be at the conventional level as they problem solve conflicting situations with few others at the principled level of reasoning.
ORDER CUSTOM, PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER
However, Kohlberg’s focus is on the universal principles of: preventing harm, truth telling, and preserving life. It is suggested that as people grow and develop morally, a progression through each of the stages is evidenced.
Kohlberg’s Six Stage Model of Moral Reasoning (Links to an external site.) ( Plain Text File )
Module 4 Notes: Gilligan’s Perspective on Moral Development and Care Model
In the book, In a Different Voice (1990),Carol Gilligan presents a theme perspective of moral development. She suggests Kohlberg’s work with predominately male participants does not represent women’s voice or their sense of moral development. Her contrasts between men and women (voices) show a distinction between two modes of thought and presents a different interpretation of moral reasoning. Gilligan says women’s morality is based on interpersonal relationships and is tied to the context of the situation.
For example, Gilligan points to the interplay of these voices within male and female gender and suggests their convergence marks times of crisis and change. Gilligan’s interest lies in the interaction of the experience, in the different voices and the dialogues that emerge, the way we listen to ourselves and to others, and in the stories we tell about our lives. She explains women tend to alter their judgments, question the normalcy of their feelings, and change their judgments in deference to the opinions of others.
Sensitivity to the needs of others and assuming responsibility may indeed take precedence over the needs of herself. Gilligan states women’s moral weakness is inseparable from women’s moral strength, and that there is an overriding concern with relationships and responsibilities. Gilligan also explains with women there is a reluctance to judge which may be related to the care and concern for others that infuse the psychology of women’s moral development.
Care Model
Gilligan presents a Care Model which assumes three levels of caring. In Gilligan’s model, she presents an affective progression from selfishness to one of giving undue consideration to others to an integration of the two. In Gilligan’s model of care, there are distinctions of care that appear to have characteristics different from, yet similar to, those presented within Kohlberg’s cognitive stages of moral reasoning.
In Level 1, the individual’s concern for survival evolves from self-centeredness toward responsibility. The first level views morality as sanctions imposed by society and being moral is surviving by being submissive to authority. The transition from selfishness to responsibility is characterized by internal conflict as the individual weighs personal desires against the needs of others.
Level 2 emphasizes goodness as self-sacrifice to assure that the care and needs of others are attended to. Goodness is relying on norms and expectations and being moral is concerned with not hurting others. In this level, the transition from goodness to truth recognizes that morality of care must include care of self and others.
In Level 3, the moral imperative of not hurting others becomes the principle guiding moral judgments. Care is the universal obligation, not individual rights, and morality is described in terms of relationships.
Bankert, E. (2002). Care and traditional ethics: Enhancing the development of moral reasoning among nurses. International Journal for Human Caring, 6(1), 25-33.
Bankert, E. G. (1994). Enhancing moral judgment for novice and expert nurses. University at Albany. Doctoral Dissertation (UMI 9516355).
Benner, P. (1984). From novice to expert. Addison Wesley.
Gilligan, C. (1990). In a different voice. Harvard Unversity Press.
Kohlberg, L. & Hersh, R. (1977). Moral development: A review of the theory (Links to an external site.) . Theory Into Practice, 16(2), 53-59.