Kohlberg’s Theory of
Moral DevelopmentIn
connection with “Choices” in
Harper Lee’s To Kill a
Mockingbird
Moral Dilemma
A train is about to crash off the
track, killing many people. You can
pull a lever that will switch the
train to another track but it will hit
a very large man, killing one
person. Do you pull the lever?
Lawrence Kohlberg
•American
Psychologist
•Developed a
sequence of stages of
moral reasoning
about right and wrong
•Kohlberg was not
interested in the
response of right and
wrong, but in the
reasoning behind the
decision
KOHLBERG’S THEORY OF MORAL
REASONING
•Kohlberg
divided moral development into
three levels and six stages.
•Each level is a different stage of moral
reasoning.
LEVEL 1:
PRECONVENTIONAL MORAL REASONING
Judgment is based on personal needs and
others’ rules.
•Stage
1: Punishment-Obedience
Orientation
Rules
are obeyed to avoid punishment. A good or
bad action is determined by its physical
consequences. Authority figures determine
standards.
•Stage
2: Personal Reward Orientation
Personal
needs determine right and wrong. Favors
are returned along the lines of “You scratch my back,
I’ll scratch yours.” Eye for eye, same for all, treat all
the same. Focused on fairness.
Level 1:
Preconventional Moral Reasoning
•Punishment-Obedience
Good or bad is determined by
physical consequences
•Personal
Reward
I’ll scratch your back if
you scratch mine
LEVEL 2:
CONVENTIONAL MORAL REASONING
Judgment is based on others’ approval, family
expectations, traditional values, the laws of society,
and loyalty to country.
•
Stage 3: Good Boy – Nice Girl Orientation

Good means “nice.” It is determined by what pleases, aids,
and is approved by others. Considers own feelings (conscience) and feelings
of others. Puts oneself in other’s shoes. Follows stereotypes of right
behavior of majority.
•

Stage 4: Laws and Order Orientation
Laws are absolute. Authority must be respected and the
social order maintained. Rigid, fixed rules are hard to change. Respect for
authority and majority rule.
Level 2:
Conventional Moral Reasoning
•Good-Boy
Nice-Girl
•Laws
and Order
LEVEL 3: POSTCONVENTIONAL
MORAL REASONING
•Stage
5: Social Contract Orientation
Good is determined by socially agreed-upon standards
of individual rights. Standards of behavior are critically
examined and socially agreed upon. Law can be changed
for the benefit of society. Making decisions for the
greater good.
•Stage
6: Universal Ethical Principle Orientation
Good and right are matters of individual conscience and
involve abstract concepts of justice, human dignity, and
equality.
LEVEL 3: POSTCONVENTIONAL
MORAL REASONING
• Social contract
• Universal ethics
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
•Scenario
(plot):
In chapter 6 (pp.-74-75), Jem tells Scout that
“We shouldn’a done that tonight…” referring to
their earlier escapades in the Radleys’ yard. He
regrets his earlier decision.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
•What
Kohlberg level and stage of moral
reasoning is Jem at?
•Level
2, Stage 3
Jem decides to go along to the Radley’s at Dill’s urging.
He then regrets his decision because he is worried
about what Atticus will think of him. He doesn’t want to
disappoint Atticus.
-OR•Level 3, Stage 6
Jem feels guilty about tormenting Boo Radley because of
higher moral reasoning. He is beginning to develop a sense of
human justice and realizes that harming Boo is wrong
because it goes against principles of human dignity and
equality.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
•What
Kohlberg level and stage of moral
reasoning is Scout at in this section?
•Be
ready to defend your response.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
•Scenario
(plot):
In chapter 14 Scout says that Jem “broke the
remaining code of [their] childhood” when he
tells Atticus that Dill has run away from home
(187).
To Kill a Mockingbird
•What
Kohlberg level and stage of moral
reasoning is Jem at here?
•Level
2, Stage 4
Jem feels an obligation to tell Atticus about Dill’s arrival
because Dill is a “wrongdoer” and Jem feels a societal
obligation that Dill receive proper punishment
-OR•Level 3, Stage 5
Jem feels that it is for Dill’s own benefit and protection that
adults be informed as to where he is. He believes that telling
Atticus will do the most good for the most people: Dill as well
as his parents who are likely worried about him.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
•
Scenario (plot):
In chapter 15 Scout places herself in the middle
of the angry mob, which eases the tensions and
possibly saves Atticus’ life (205).
•
•
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
•What
Kohlberg level and stage of moral
reasoning is Scout at?
•Be
ready to defend your response.
•Write
2-3 sentences to explain your
response.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
•Choose
a character from the novel. Analyze
which stage they are at in their moral
development at this point in the novel. If the
character has moved from one stage to
another (dynamic character), make note of
this.
Please follow the lit analysis recipe and be
prepared to discuss. (TCQEA).
The character of__________is at level___
stage____ of Kholberg’s moral development.
The character of Dill in To Kill a
Mockingbird is at stage 1 level 1 in
Kholberg’s stages of moral reasoning.
At this point in the novel, Dill runs away
from home and hides under Scout’s bed.
Before running away, he had “taken
thirteen dollars from his mother’s purse”
(187). This shows that he is operating
purely out of self-interest. Dill’s
willingness to disobey rules if he feels he
can get away with it shows a lack of
higher moral reasoning.