Question

Explain how children reason in Kohlberg’s three levels of moral thought: preconventional moral thought, conventional moral thought, and postconventional moral thought. For each level, report a) what children emphasize as important as their basis for their moral beliefs and b) provide an example from the Heinz dilemma that reflects that type of moral reasoning.

Explain the roles of at least THREE of the following factors on gender role development: a) prenatal hormones, b) different socialization for boys and girls, c) modeling, and d) gender schemas.

Answer 1

Dear student, as per the guidelines I can answer the first question. I hope you will understand.

Kohlberg's theory of moral development:

A) Kohlberg gave three stages of moral development: preconventional, conventional and postconventional. Each stage is further subdivided into two stages. The preconventional stage is divided into 1) obedient and punishment orientation and 2) instrumental orientation. In the preconventional stage, the child's morality is externally controlled. They understand bad and good as per the rules dictated to them by the authorities (parents, teachers). In this stage they judge the action on the basis of the consequences. If the consequence is positive, they understand that the action is good. The conventional stage is divided into 1) Good boy, nice girl orientation and 2) Law and order orienation. Here in the conventional stage, a child's morality is tied to personal and societal relationships. They continue to listen to the authority figures (parents, teachers, law makers) because of the understanding that it is neccessary to maintain a positive relationship with the society. The post conventional stage is divided into 1) social contract orientation and 2) universal ethical principal orientation. In the postconventional stage, morality of the individuals is tied to more abstract principles and values. Here, people believe that not all laws are just. Some laws are unjust and needs to be changed.

B) Heinz dilemma is about a sick woman's husband who goes to everyone to borrow some money because his wife is in the deathbed. There is one drug that could save her life but it is very costly. He could gather only half of what the medicine is costing, so he requested the drug seller to either reduce the drug cost as his wife is dying or he allow him to pay later. The drug seller says no, which made Heinz desperate. So, he broke into the man's laboratory and stole the drug for his wife. Now the question is, Should Heinz have broken into the man's lab? Why or why not? Using the Kohlberg's moral development stages, following moral reasoning could be done to justify the action of Heinz. For example, in the preconventional stage, a person would think about the action in terms of its consequences. So, if Heinz gets caught for stealing, he would be put into jail. Therefore, Heinz action is wrong. Whereas, a person who is in the post conventional stage might justify the action of Heinz with the reasoning, saving a person's life is more important and is of more value than any material property. Therefore, Heinz action is not wrong.