MORALITYAs we age and become more complex, we begin to view issues differently

what is right and wrong?BIG difference seen between children and adults

MORALITYChildren: something is wrong if you are punished for it

Adults: just “know” something is wrong, even if they get away with it and the opposite

kids with breaking things <6

MORALITYMany changes during adolescence.

Transition from childhood to adulthood

girls in N. America: 12-13boys: 13-15the end is harder to identify

MORALITYStill closely tied to the parents with more independence than ever

start turning out to societyHormones rewire the brain

MORALITYLawrence Kohlbergalso distinct stages of moral reasoning

evaluate the reasoning behind moral decisions!

We all start at a low level of morals

Lawrence Kohlberg

MORALITYMORALITYMoral dilemmas- developed by Kohlberg to see what level of morals you have

there is no such thing as a moral or immoral DECISION, but moral or immoral REASONS******

BOYS

Kohlberg’s MethodIn order to determine which stage of

moral development a person was at, Kohlberg presented the person with moral dilemmas “The Case of Heinz and the Druggist.”

Mr. Heinz's wife is dying. There is one drug that will save her life but it is very expensive. The druggist will not lower the price so that Mr. Heinz can buy it to save his wife's life. What should he do? More importantly, why?

Moral dilemmas were judged, not according to the respondent’s position (to steal the drug or not), but on the basis of the kind of reasoning the answer exhibited.

MORALITYFEW people are actually consistent

Hypocritesmany never reach level 625% of adults??women tend to lag

Kohlberg suggested a stage theory of moral development:

Preconventional Morality 1. Punishment-obedience 2. Personal reward orientation

Conventional Morality 3. The “good boy/nice girl”

Orientation 4. The “law and order”

orientationPost-conventional Morality

5. Social contract orientation 6. Universal ethical principle

orientation

MORALITYPRECONVENTIONAL LEVELS1. Punishment and obedience orientation

“wrong is punished”immediate consequencesWill I be punished?

Kohlberg’s Levels2. Obey for your own benefitdelayed benefits are taken into account—rewards!!

people may help you down the road

“you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”

Kohlberg’s LevelsCONVENTIONAL MORALITY3. “Good Boy, Nice Girl Orientation”

public opinion is the main basis of morals

what will others think of me?

Kohlberg’s Levels4. Law and Order Orientationyou should respect and follow the law because it is the law

no questions askedsocial order also important

Kohlberg’s LevelsPOSTCONVENTIONAL LEVEL5. Social-Contract Orientation

laws should be followed, but there should be flexibility

majority can changewhat was it intended to do?the role of a husband/wife

Kohlberg’s Levels6. Universal Ethical Principle Orientation

laws can be broken in special cases - civil disobedience

there are higher ethics like justice & respect for human life

Arguments AgainstHe is not covering EVERYTHING

do you actually do what you say you will do?

Hypocrites!!!

Arguments AgainstDiscriminates against people who can’t articulate themselves

What about women?The caring vs. justice component

Men vs. WomenCarol Gilligan men: rights and duties women: caring is more important

women want to hear the details of a situation

Carol Gilligan began with an interest in moral development She had been a teaching assistant for Erik Erikson

particularly interested in issue Kohlberg raised: why do some individuals recognize a higher moral law, while others simply are content to obey the rules without question?

Gilligan’s Initial ResearchHer initial research -- draft resisters during the Vietnam war.

Nixon cancelled draft just as her project was started.

study women who made difficult moral choices about abortion.

Not originally concerned about gender issue.

Gilligan’s CriticismABORTION:Men: right because women’s right to choose, wrong because it takes a life

Women: it depends

Gilligan’s StagesSTAGE 1 PRECONVENTIONALwhat is best/worst for me?STAGE 2 CONVENTIONALwhat is best for others?

Gilligan’s Stages3. POSTCONVENTIONALfocus on the fact that hurting anyone, including oneself is immoral.

Once again, REASONS matter

Later Research...Males and females take justice and caring into account

differences have never been substantiated

TWO “voices” justice vs. caring

Differences between Men’s and Women’s Moral VoicesMenJusticeRightsTreating everyone

fairly and the sameApply rules impartially

to everyoneResponsibility toward

abstract codes of conduct

WomenCareResponsibilityCaring about

everyone’s suffering

Preserve emotional connectedness

Responsibility toward real individuals