Running head: Moral reasoning

Moral Reasoning
Kelly E. Burg
Wayne State University

Moral reasoning

Context
Moral reasoning is a thinking process that an individual goes through to determine if
something is right or wrong. Social workers are faced with ethical dilemmas each day with
clients. The social worker needs to use their own moral reasoning to determine what is right and
what is wrong in certain situations when helping clients. Kate is a sophomore student in high
school. Kate was recommended by one of her friends to speak to the social worker.
She has been being sexually abused by her stepfather. He has been coming into her room
and touching her breasts and her vagina at night. Kate informed her mother about what her
stepfather has been doing to her. Her mother told the stepfather to never talk to her again and she
threw him out of the house. Kate gets upset and tells the social worker that she doesnt want her
to report this to the DHS because her mother will get very angry. Kate then says if you tell DHS
she will never speak to the social worker again and will tell all of her friends to never trust the
social worker. Since everything has happened with her stepfather, Kate is now having difficulties
sleeping and keeps having nightmares of her stepfather returning back into her home.
In this situation with Kate, it is necessary to report this situation because as a social
worker they are mandated reporters, reporting the situation can prevent future harm, and there
are rules that social workers need to follow both in their workplace and with the law.
Moral Reasoning
Barsky (2010), According to Piaget (1999), Kohlberg, Levine, and Hewer (1983), and
other developmental theorist, moral reasoning (the basis for moral behavior), develops through a
series of stages from childhood to adulthood.
Lawrence Kohlberg defined moral development into three different levels and six
different stages. Kohlbergs model of moral reasoning, (Barsky 2010), in the first level

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preconvential reasoning, Kohlbergs two stages are obedience/punishment orientation and selfinterest orientation. In this level it is more common for younger children to be more
understanding. This shows how individuals respond to certain rules. Individuals determine moral
behavior by analyzing the consequences of an action. An individual may also think about what
is in the certain situation for themselves, such as a prize or gift at the end depending on their
behavior. In the second level conventional reasoning, Kohlbergs two stages are interpersonal
accord/conformity and authority/ social- order maintaining orientation. This level tends to occur
by adolescence and goes on throughout life. During this level, people tend to judge the morality
of actions by comparing choices with their own view and expectations of others. Individuals also
try to fit in with certain groups of people. In the third level, Kohlbergs two stages are social
contract/ individual rights orientation and universal ethical principles. In this stage, individuals
go into a higher form of their own thinking. They are more likely to make their own opinions,
choices, and judgments.
At Kates age she is in the conventional reasoning stage. She is starting to see the views
of other people such as her mother. She is starting to take her mothers views into consideration.
Kate shows this because she becomes upset and says that the social worker cant report the case
because her mother will become furious with her if she tells anyone. This shows that she wants
to be accepted by her mother and anyone else that knows about what has happened with her
stepfather. She doesnt want to be judged or in trouble by her mother for telling a social worker
what happened.
To Report
In Kates situation, being sexually abused by her stepfather, the social worker must not
make assumptions based on the facts that are given. The first reason why I as a social worker

Moral reasoning

would report this situation is because when you are a social worker, you are a mandated reporter.
Social workers must report any situations if a client is either being abused or in any situation
where a client says that he or she is going to hurt themselves or someone else.
(Cox, 2011), Under most laws, young people are recognized as adults at age 18. But
emerging science about brain development suggests that most people dont reach full maturity
until the age 25. Kate hasnt fully developed mentally. She is at a lower stage of moral
reasoning. She says that she doesnt want the social worker to report the situation to DHS. Kate
may be asking for her own help, even if she knows it will upset her mother.
Reporting to DHS can eliminate future harm to Kate, such as PTSD. Being a victim of
sexual abuse can cause problems throughout an individuals lifetime. Kate may develop complex
PTSD. (Sussex 2014,) Complex PTSD also known as disorder stress, is found among
individuals who have been exposed to prolonged traumatic circumstances, especially during
childhood, such as childhood sexual abuse. If Kate doesnt receive the help that she needs, it
may lead into changes in her everyday life such as behavioral problems, drug use, alcohol use, or
even facing metal difficulties down the road.
Although Kate says that she told her mother, the social worker cant make any
assumptions. There are rules that social workers must follow including both the state law and the
job as a school social worker. In this case the social worker must protect not only herself, but the
school district. This shows professional respect to herself and the school district.
Counter Argument
Conversation between a social worker and a client is very important. The social worker
must keep all conversation confidential between them and the client that they are seeing. By
reporting this situation to DHS, this breaks the confidentially between Kate and the social

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worker. If the social worker doesnt report the situation, the social worker and Kate can try to
build a stronger relationship. This may help the situation because the social worker doesnt know
much information that is going on. She only knows that she is being sexually abused by her
stepfather. There isnt too much detailed information that is given. If the two become closer,
Kate may revel some information that may be very important in the case that she wouldnt tell
anyone else when speaking with them.
Conclusion
Social workers need to make decisions about ethical dilemmas they face with their
clients. The dilemma that the social worker had to face with Kate was one to either report or not
to report. In the end, by telling DHS, the social worker would have been able to help a young
high school girl that needed help with a serious issue she was facing. The social worker would
have done was is right by the law and by the rules that she is given as a social worker at a school.
Even though this situation will effect Kate for the rest of her life, the social worker may be able
to help her cope with what she has went through to help eliminate any future harm. Nobody
deserves to go through any certain abuse during their lives!

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6
References

Barsky,E. (2014). Ethics and Values in Social Work. Oxford, New York: Oxford University
Press.
Sussex Publishers. (2014). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Psychology Today. Retrieved from
https://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder.
Cox,T. (2011). Brain Maturity Extends Well Beyond Teen Years. NPR. Retrieved from
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=141164708.