QUESTION 1
(a) (i) Kohlberg theory
Kohlberg's theory relates to cognitive moral development(CMD)-that is theories that attempt to explain cognitive processes and decisions taken by individuals. Kohlberg's theory of CMD attempts to show the reasoning processes used by individuals, and how those processes change as the individual matured from a "child" to be an "adult".
CMD therefore relates to the different levels of reasoning that an individual can apply to ethical issues and problems.
Kohlbert identified threee levels of moral development, with two sub-stages within each level-giving six stages in total.
Level one:
The individual is focused on self-interest, external rewards and punishment. Decisions are likely to be unethical because the person makes decisions entirely in accordance with expected rewards and punishment protecting their own interests.
The two sub-levels are:
1.1 Right and wrong are defined according to expected rewards and/or punishment from figures of authority.
1.2 Right is defined according to whether there is fairness in exchanges-individuals are concerned therefore with their own immediate interests.
Level two:
The individual tends to do what is expected of them by others. "Others" in this situation relates to work colleagues initially but is broadened to society in general in the second sub-stage of this level. In other words the person is starting to think about their actions and society as a whole rater than focusing on just their immediate peers.
Level two:
The individual tends to do what is expected of them by others. "Others" in this situation relates to work colleagues initially but is broadened to society in general in the second sub-stage of this level. In other words the person is starting to think about their actions and society as a whole rater than focusing on just their immediate peers.
The two sub-levels are:
2.1 Actions are defined by what is expected of individuals by their peers and those
close to them.
2.2 The consideration of the expectations of others is broadened to social accord in general terms rather than immediate peers.
Level three: The individual starts to develop autonomous decision making which is based on internal perspectives of right/wrong ethics etc.rather than based on any external nfluences.
The two sub-levels are:
3.1 Right and wrong are determined by reference to basic rights, values and contracts of society.
3.2 Individuals make decisions and based on self-chosen ethical principles which they believe everyone should follow. Individuals therefore have a strong ethical stance, meaning that ethical decisions are made, even when they mean harm is incurred to the individual from making those decisions.
As individuals move through the stages then they are moving onto higher levels of moral reasoning-with higher levels in general terms providing more "ethical" methods of reasoning. Most individuals operate at level two reasoning-so decisions are made in accordance with what an individual perceives others to believe and in accordance with what is therefore expected of that individual by others.
