Educational Psychology / Unit 3 EDP 0270 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Classifying Moral Reasoning
The idea
To place moral reasoning at one of Kohlberg's levels, set the decision aside and examine the justification. Reasoning about avoiding punishment or getting something in return is preconventional. Reasoning about being seen as good, keeping relationships, or upholding the law and social order is conventional. Reasoning about rights, social contracts that can be revised, or universal principles such as justice is postconventional. Within each level, the two stages separate the narrower concern from the broader one.
In practice
Worked example: asked why not to copy homework, a student says, "Because the teacher trusts us and I don't want to let her down." Approval and relationships: stage three.
Where people slip
The answer alone says nothing. "Don't cheat" can rest on fear of punishment, on loyalty to the teacher, or on a principle of fairness, and those are three different levels. Keep asking why until the reasoning shows.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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