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Kohlberg's Theory
There are simple reasons why Heinz should or should not have stolen
the drug, and there are very sophisticated reasons, and reasons in
between. After looking at hundreds of interviews concerning this and
several other stories, Kohlberg outlined three broad levels and six
more specific stages of moral development.
Stage 1. We can call this the reward and punishment stage. Good or
bad depends on the physical consequences: Does the action lead to
punishment or reward? This stage is based simply on one's own pain
and pleasure, and doesn't take others into account.
Stage 2. This we can call the exchange stage. In this stage, there is
increased recognition that others have their own interests and should
be taken into account. Those interests are still understood in a very
concrete fashion, and the child deals with others in terms of simple
exchange or reciprocity: "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine."
Children in this stage are very concerned with what's fair, but are not
concerned with real justice.
Bronfenbrenner's Theory
Another psychologist unafraid to tackle morallity was Urie
Bronfenbrenner. He is famous for his studies of children and schools
in different cultures. He outlines five moral orientations:
On the other hand, sometimes people slide back down to the lowest
orientation when they suffer from the disintegration of social
structures, as in war and other social disasters. This can force a
person's attentions back onto their own needs, and cause them to begin
ignoring the welfare of larger social groupings.