Question

Applying Kohlberg’s theory, describe how would someone at each level of moral development reason about why it is wrong to steal, or right to steal (see table 3.2).

Answer 1

Kohlberg defined three levels of moral development: preconventional, conventional, and postconventional.

(1)During the preconventional level, a person's sense of morality is externally controlled. Person accept and believe the rules of authority figures, such as parents and teachers, and they judge an action based on its consequences. If parents consider stealing as wrong, then that person will also consider it in the same way.

(2)During the conventional level, an individual’s sense of morality is tied to personal and societal relationships. The person continues to accept the rules of authority figures, but this is now because he believes that this is necessary to ensure positive relationships and societal order. So, in order to make good societal relations, person abandons the process of stealing.

(3)During the postconventional level, a person’s sense of morality is defined in terms of more abstract principles and values. People now believe that some laws are unjust and should be changed or eliminated. But stealing is still not acceptable and this thing should be elimibated from the society. So, person also at this stage, does not involve in stealing.

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