Showing posts with label Theory of Moral Development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Theory of Moral Development. Show all posts

Friday, July 23, 2010

LET Tips: Theories of Moral Development

You may have wondered why I only have 5 items for my LET tips. To be honest it is hard to find specific questions about a certain topic/theory. As a matter of fact, a question relating to a certain topic/theory will only appear perhaps once, twice, and sometimes even never. Nonetheless, I hope that through these questions you now have acquired ideas about how topics in education are being asked in the LET and be able to answer these questions as correctly as possible.

1. During their examinations, Mia didn't cheat and avoided looking at her classmate's answer. She did this because of her worry that her classmates will call her "cheater" and "dishonest", if she will be caught by the teacher. In what stage of moral development can Mia be considered?
A. Universal Ethical Principle
B. Good Boy/Good Girl
C. Mutual Benefit
D. Punishment/Obedience

2. The child's concept of right and wrong is based on external criteria laid by adults during the level of preconventional morality. This is based on the ideas of,
A. Piaget
B. Kohlberg
C. Freud
D. Erikson

3. Democratic type of government gives chance for its citizens to make or break a law. Which stage of Kohlberg's moral development theory explains this?
A. Law and Order
B. Universal Ethical Principles
C. Social Contract
D. Punishment/Obedience

4. Kohlberg suggested that schools must give opportunity for the students to develop moral growth. Which of the following did he promote?
A. Equal Education
B. Just Community
C. Academic Freedom
D. Community Collaboration

5. If boys are more inclined to justice in their moral reasoning, girls are more inclined to,
A. Peace
B. Harmony
C. Order
D. Care

Answer Key: 1. B; 2. B; 3. C; 4. B; 5. D

Applications: Theory of Moral Development

We are always reminded that as teachers, we must mold holistic and well-rounded individuals. The applications of Kohlberg's and Gilligan's theory of moral development emphasize the affective side of our students to make them the kind of individuals we want them to be. Aside from molding the cognitive and behavioral sides of our students, the affective sides must also be developed. This will make us avoid producing "intellectual giants" but "emotional dwarfs" individuals.

1. Let the students realize that they are responsible for their moral development. Present them different anecdotes or examples that will inspire and teach them to be morally responsible with their own actions.

2. Give the students opportunities to hear different perspectives especially in deciding what is right or wrong. Have discussions, forums, debates, etc. about certain issues. This will be more meaningful if the issues are related to the students' lives.

3. Discuss issues in a multicultural or global perspective. Present them how are certain issues tackled in other cultures. Through this, students can widen their understanding and learn to respect different views and beliefs.

4. Most elementary and secondary school students are said to be in the stages 1 and 4 of moral development. We can actually use this in maintaining classroom management, behavior modification and establishing routines inside the classroom.

5. Be an example to the students. We must walk our talk so to speak. Values are caught than taught. So as teachers, we must present values and attitudes worth emulating.

6. It is easier said than done. Moral development is useless if not put into action. One of the criticisms of Kohlberg's theory is that he emphasized more on the reasoning and not on the practicability of morality. This is where Gilligan comes in. Let us teach our student the value of care for other people, as well as for themselves.

Carol Gilligan's Theory of Moral Development (Feminist View)

           This is the first post in this blog featuring a woman psychologist, and she is no other than Carol Gilligan.

Carol Gilligan...
          Carol Gilligan provides an alternative theory of moral development. She was the first to consider gender differences in her research in the mental processes of males and females in their moral development. She noted that girls are more concerned with care, relationships and connections with other people than boys. Thus, she hypothesized that girls are more inclined toward caring and boys toward justice. She presented three levels of moral development:

I. Pre Conventional: Individual Survival
One learns to care for oneself.

II. Conventional: Self Sacrifice is Goodness
One internalizes norms about care for others and tends to neglect oneself.

III. Post Conventional: Principle of Non-violence
One becomes critical of the conventions adopted in the conventional stage and learns to balance caring for self and caring for others.

image source: http://www.drury.edu/nltimage/CarolGilligan2.jpg

Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

          Lawrence Kohlberg identified that there are three levels, with 2 stages each, of moral development. If Piaget used "Piagetian tasks", Kohlberg used "moral dilemmas" in order to interpret the moral reasoning of individuals. The most famous is the "Heinz Steals the Drug". To know the story of Heinz, just refer to wikipedia.hehehe...
This is Lawrence Kohlberg...He reminds me of a hollywood star or a director...i dont know...
   

Level I: PreConventional. Individuals judge the morality of an action based on its direct consequence.

Stage 1: Punishment/Obedience Orientation
          In this stage, individuals tend to focus on the direct consequence of an action. The consequence of an action tells what right or wrong is. When an action is punished, then that action is wrong, and if it is rewarded, that action is right.
Stage 2: Mutual Benefit
          Individuals have "what's in it for me?" thinking. Individuals act based on the self advantage or benefit that one may acquire doing the action.

Level II: Conventional. Individuals judge the morality of an action by the "conventions" or norms, views and expectations of the society.

Stage 3: Social Approval Orientation
          This stage is commonly called Good boy/Good girl orientation. Individuals act based on the approval or disapproval from other people, and because of their concern of how other people might see, think or say about them.
Stage 4: Law and Order
          Individuals act in order to maintain the law like following the rules, doing one's duty and respecting the authority. This is done for the prevalence of order and functioning of the society.

Level III: Post Conventional. Moral reasoning precedes the law or the convention of the society rather on the principles behind the law. Individuals may disobey rules if inconsistent with their own principle.

Stage 5: Social Contract
          Each person holds different opinions, rights and values and should be mutually respected. Laws that are wrong can be changed to meet the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principle
         Moral reasoning is deeply internalized and is based on abstract reasoning using universal ethical principles. They act because it is right, and not because it is instrumental, expected or legal. This drives them to possess moral responsibility for societal changes.

image source: http://relong.myweb.uga.edu/index_files/image002.jpg