Objectives

College students wanting to learn about theories of moral development will be able to:
Outline the stage theories of Lawrence Kohlberg and Carol Gilligan Tell the difference between a justice orientation and a care orientation Describe the study conducted by Stephanie Cain and Sylvia Tellez regarding Kohlberg and Gilligans theories.

Moral Development
Does gender make a difference?
Lawrence Kohlberg Vs. Carol Gilligan
Online Biography Online Biography

Lawrence Kohlberg
Born October 25, 1927 in Bronxville, NY Obtained his bachelors degree after one year of study at the University of Chicago in 1948 Earned his doctoral degree in 1958 from the same university after writing a dissertation outlining stage theory of moral development Taught at the University of Chicago (beginning in 1962) and Harvard University (beginning in 1968) Performed cross-cultural studies of moral development in Israel and Belize

Kohlbergs Stage Theory

Preconventional

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Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation Stage 2: Individualism and Exchange Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships Stage 4: Maintaining Social Order Stage 5: Social Contract and Individual Rights Stage 6: Universal Principles

Conventional

Postconventional

Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation

There is a strict set of rules that must always be followed The ideas of punishment and permission are key Preconventional thought expressed

Stage 2: Individualism and Exchange

Now there is not one right way of doing things; everything is relative Fair exchange policy The role of punishment weakens

Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships

Good Boy/Nice Girl Orientation People should live up to the expectations of community Characters traits and motives are examined

Stage 4: Maintaining the Social Order

There is an emphasis on obeying laws, respecting authority, and performing ones duties so social order is maintained

Perspective changes to society as a whole

Not only does the child say a certain action is right or wrong, they explore the reasons why

Stage 5: Social Contract and Individual Rights

An individuals moral judgment is motivated by community respect, respecting social order, and respect for legally/determined laws Thoughts consider the rights and values a society must uphold

Stage 6: Universal Principles

Involves universal principles of justice that apply to all people We treat the particular dilemma through unbiased and impartial eyes We can only reach this stage by looking at a situation through someone elses eyes

Carol Gilligan
Born in 1936 Student of Lawrence Kohlberg Obtained an B.A. in English Literature, a masters degree in Clinical Psychology, and a Ph.D. in Social Psychology Has taught at Harvard University, University of Cambridge, and New York University. She currently teaches at the University of Cambridge. Focused most of her studies on gender-related development

Gilligans View of Kohlberg

Justice orientation/perspective
draws attention to problems of inequality and oppression and holds up an ideal of reciprocity and equal respect.

Care orientation/perspective
draws attention to problems of detachment or abandonment and holds up an ideal of attention and response to need.

Gilligan states that Two moral injunctions not to treat others unfairly and not to turn away from someone in need capture these different concerns.

Gilligans Stages of Development (relating to the Ethics of Care)

Transition from selfishness to responsibility to others Transition from goodness to truth

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Preconventional Striving for individual survival

Conventional Good things come out of self-sacrifice

Postconventional Principle of nonviolence toward oneself and others