Kohlberg’s Theory and Participant Analysis

Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development:

Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory proposes that moral development progresses through six stages, grouped into three levels: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional. Individuals move through these stages as their cognitive abilities mature. Kohlberg emphasized the reasoning behind moral decisions, not the decisions themselves.

Participant Description ( hypothetical, based on video instructions):

Since I cannot access specific people through this text-based interaction, let’s create a hypothetical participant based on the video instructions. Imagine an 11-year-old girl, Sarah, in the fifth grade.

Kohlberg’s “Drug” Scenario:

You present Sarah with Kohlberg’s classic dilemma: “In Europe, a woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her life. It was a very expensive drug, and the woman’s husband, Heinz, could not afford it. The drug cost $500, which was ten times what Heinz could afford. He tried everything he could to collect the money, but he could only get $50. He asked the pharmacist to sell it to him for a lower price or let him pay later, but the pharmacist refused. Heinz was desperate to save his wife’s life, so he broke into the pharmacy and stole the drug. Should Heinz have stolen the drug?”

Sarah’s Response and Reasoning:

Sarah might say, “Yes, Heinz should have stolen the drug. His wife is going to die, and there’s nothing else he can do. He tried everything to get the money legally, but he couldn’t. Stealing is wrong, but in this case, it’s the only way to save his wife’s life.”

Kohlberg’s Stage:

Based on Sarah’s reasoning, she is likely in the Stage 3: Good Boy/Nice Girl Orientation of Kohlberg’s theory. Her decision is motivated by a desire to avoid disapproval and gain approval by doing the “right” thing according to societal norms (saving a life).

Criticisms of Kohlberg’s Theory:

• Gender Bias: Critics argue the theory is biased towards a Western, male perspective.
• Focus on Justice: The theory overemphasizes justice as the core moral principle, neglecting other important factors like compassion.
• Limited Stages: Kohlberg’s stages may not capture the full spectrum of moral reasoning across cultures.

Thoughts on Kohlberg’s Theory:

Kohlberg’s theory provides a valuable framework for understanding moral development. However, it’s important to acknowledge its limitations and consider cultural influences on moral reasoning. Building on Kohlberg’s work, future models should strive to be more inclusive and capture the complexities of moral decision-making.