Moral Reasoning and Development

Exploring Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

Moral reasoning, the complex process by which individuals discern right from wrong, is shaped by a myriad of influences, including cultural norms and personal experiences. Lawrence Kohlberg, an American psychologist building on the work of Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget, proposed a comprehensive theory that moral reasoning evolves through a series of developmental stages. According to Kohlberg, individuals progress from a preconventional level, where moral reasoning is based on self-interest and avoiding punishment, to a conventional level, where societal norms and the expectations of others guide behavior, and ultimately to a postconventional level, where moral reasoning is based on abstract reasoning and ethical principles. These levels are not tied to specific ages but represent a sequence of qualitative changes in moral thought.

Kohlberg's Research Methodology and Moral Dilemmas

Kohlberg's theory emerged from a longitudinal study that spanned over a decade, initially involving 75 American boys aged 10 to 16. The study expanded to include participants from various countries, such as Britain, Mexico, Turkey, Canada, and Taiwan, to explore cross-cultural patterns in moral development. Participants were presented with a series of moral dilemmas, such as the well-known Heinz dilemma, every few years to elicit moral reasoning. The focus of Kohlberg's analysis was not on whether the participants believed the actions in the dilemmas were right or wrong, but rather on the reasoning they used to arrive at their conclusions, which provided insight into their stage of moral development.