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The Theory:-Each level is subdivided into two stages – giving six stages in total.
-Individuals tend to move from Level 1 to Level 3 as they get older
-basis for ethical behavior, has six identifiable developmental constructive stages - each more adequate at responding to moral dilemmas than the last.
Kohlberg’s theory of CMD attempts to show the reasoning processes used by individuals, and how those processes changed as the individual matured from a child to an adult.
In other words, CMD relates to the different levels of reasoning that an individual can apply to ethical issues and problems.
Kohlberg believed...and was able to demonstrate through studies...that people progressed in their moral reasoning (i.e., in their bases for ethical behavior) through a series of stages. He believed that there were six identifiable stages which could be more generally classified into three levels
Kohlberg identified three levels of morale development, with 2 sub-stages within each level – giving six stages in total:-Level one: The individual is focused on self-interest, external rewards and punishment.
Level two: The individual tends to do what is expected of them by others
Level three: The individual starts to develop autonomous decision making which is based on internal perspectives of right/wrong ethics, etc. rather than based on any external influences.
Level 1 : Pre-conventional
Stage 1:-Obedience and Punishment.
-The earliest stage of moral development is especially common in young children, but adults are capable of expressing this type of reasoning. At this stage, children see rules as fixed and absolute. Obeying the rules is important because it is a means to avoid punishment. I.e unethical decision taken because employee believes either they will be rewarded or the company will not punish them.
Stage 2 :- Instrumental purpose and exchange
-Concrete individual interests. Is aware of others' interests.
-At this stage, children account for individual points of view and judge actions based on how they serve individual needs. In the Heinz dilemma, children argued that the best course of action was whichever best-served Heinz’s needs. Reciprocity is possible, but only if it serves one's own interests. I.e,one employee ‘covers’ for the absence of a colleague – on the understanding that the colleague will cover for them if necessary. Employee therefore only carrying out the action because it benefits them.
Level 2 : Conventional
Stage 3 :Interpersonal accord and conformity
-This stage is focused on living up to social expectations and roles. There is an emphasis on conformity, being "nice," and consideration of how choices influence relationships.
-Lives up to others' expectations in order to be seen to be good and then has self-regard as being good. Actions are defined by what is expected of individuals by their peers and those close to them.
-I.e;an employee justifies using the company telephone and email for personal use because all other employees already do this.
Stage 4 : Social accord and system maintenance
-This stage of moral development, people begin to consider society as a whole when making judgments. The focus is on maintaining law and order by following the rules, doing one’s duty, and respecting authority.
-Fulfils social duties in order to keep the social system going. I.e; a manager raises working conditions of employees above the statutory minimum to the standard expected by pressure groups, consumers and other groups in society.
Level 3 :Post-conventional
Stage 5: Social contract and individual rights
-At this stage, people begin to account for the differing values, opinions, and beliefs of other people. Rules of law are important for maintaining a society, but members of the society should agree upon these standards.
-Upholds relative rules in the interest of impartiality and welfare for all.
-Right and wrong are determined by reference to basic rights, values and contracts of society I.e,a food manufacturer makes full disclosure of the ingredients in its products, although there is no statutory requirement and pressure groups have not requested the information.
Stage 6: Universal ethical principles
-Kolhberg’s final level of moral reasoning is based upon universal ethical principles and abstract reasoning. At this stage, people follow these internalized principles of justice, even if they conflict with laws and rules.
-Follows self-chosen ethical principles, even when they conflict with the laws. I.e, a purchasing manager stops buying products that have been tested on animals as the testing does not respect the animal’s right to be free from suffering.
Criticism of Kohlberg theory of moral stage
- emphasizes justice to the exclusion of other values. As a consequence of this, it may not adequately address the arguments of people who value other moral aspects of actions.
- does moral reasoning necessarily lead to moral behavior? Kohlberg's theory is concerned with moral thinking, but there is a big difference between knowing what we ought to do versus our actual actions.
- it has gender bias – the fieldwork for the theory was drawn from interviews with young American males. Gilligan C. argued that it did not adequately describe the concern of woman.
- does Kohlberg's theory overemphasize Western philosophy? Individualistic cultures emphasize personal rights while collectivistic cultures stress the importance of society and community. Eastern cultures may have different moral outlooks that Kohlberg's theory does not account for.
In Europe, a woman was near death from a special kind of cancer.There was one drug that the doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times what the drug cost him to make. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2,000 for a small dose of the drug.
The sick woman's husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could only get together about $ 1,000 which is half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said: "No, I discovered the drug and I'm going to make money from it." So Heinz got desperate and broke into the man's store to steal the drug-for his wife. Should the husband have done that?
Kohlberg was not interested so much in the answer to the question of whether Heinz was wrong or right, but in the reasoning for the participants decision. The responses were then classified into various stages of reasoning.
Sources:
- Wikipedia
- Kohlberg : "Moral stages and moralization: The cognitive-developmental approach".
- Kaplan Publishing.
- Hedl, John, Glazer, Chan,: "Improving the Moral Reasoning of Allied Health Students" (article part)
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