Educational Psychology / Unit 13 EDP 1218 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Kohlberg in a Classroom Dilemma
The idea
Kohlberg scored the justification for a moral decision, not the decision itself, across three levels. Preconventional reasoning looks to punishment and self-interest. Conventional reasoning looks to others' approval, relationships, and law and order. Postconventional reasoning looks to social contracts that can be revised and to universal principles such as justice. A classroom approach drawn from the theory has students discuss moral dilemmas, aiming at the quality of reasoning rather than one right answer.
In practice
Worked example: a class discusses whether a student should report a friend who cheated. One student says, "No, you'd get beaten up": preconventional. Another says, "Yes, because rules keep the school fair for everyone": conventional, stage four. A third says, "Fairness to everyone matters more than loyalty to one person": postconventional reasoning from principle.
Where people slip
The same answer can reflect different levels, so keep asking why until the reasoning shows. Few people reach stage six, and the levels describe reasoning, not how well people behave.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Unlocks
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