AP Psychology - Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

Johnny has not studied for his final exam. The thought of cheating during the test occurs to him, but he decides not to do so because he is afraid that if he gets caught, it will result in a negative mark on his permanent record.

• Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment Orientation

• Stage 2: Individualism & Exchange

• Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships

• Stage 4: Maintaining the Social Order

• Stage 5 OR Stage 6: Postconventional Level

During a quiz, Bobby is sitting next to the smartest student in the class (Jessica), and he thinks, “I think I have number five right, but I am not sure – yet I want to get a good grade on this test to boost my GPA. I am going to peek at Jessica’s quiz.” He decides that he would let Jessica see his answers in the future. Everyone does it occasionally. Bobby looks at her paper. In this case, he is basing his decision on he will treat this person the same way in the future.

• Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment Orientation

• Stage 2: Individualism & Exchange

• Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships

• Stage 4: Maintaining the Social Order

• Stage 5 OR Stage 6: Postconventional Level

Mary is stumped on her homework assignment. She wants to do well, but she cannot figure out the homework. Moreover, she knows that this homework will be graded. She is toying with the idea of copying some answers, but she thinks, “While I do not particularly think we should not be allowed to share homework, especially if it is not for points, I should express these opinions to my teacher in hopes for change, rather than going against the rules.” Mary believes that rules are important but that they can and should be questioned in ways that maintain democratic methods.

• Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment Orientation

• Stage 2: Individualism & Exchange

• Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships

• Stage 4: Maintaining the Social Order

• Stage 5 OR Stage 6: Postconventional Level

Terry is struggling in history class. He missed a quiz due to an absence and by the time the next history class comes around, he is not prepared to take the quiz. To gain more time to study (for if he does poorly on this quiz, his parents will ground him), he lies to the teacher about being absent not just for one day but for three days because this will force his teacher to give him more time to prepare. Terry does not want to be grounded and makes his decision on preventing bad consequences.

• Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment Orientation

• Stage 2: Individualism & Exchange

• Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships

• Stage 4: Maintaining the Social Order

• Stage 5 OR Stage 6: Postconventional Level

Kurt just took a test and is relieved that it is over. At lunch, he is pressured by his friends to tell them what’s on the test (they have the same teacher later in the day). He tries to be polite in refusing to give away answers on the test. He knows that sharing information about a test is a form of academic dishonesty. Even though he knows he will not get caught he honors his self-dignity and he would never want to act to compromise his dignity – so, he refuses to be academically dishonest. After thinking about the policy, he agrees that it is a form of academic dishonesty.

• Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment Orientation

• Stage 2: Individualism & Exchange

• Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships

• Stage 4: Maintaining the Social Order

• Stage 5 OR Stage 6: Postconventional Level

Elton found $1000 in the street and decides to give it to a charity that helps underprivileged kids so his neighbors will think he is a great guy.

• Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment Orientation

• Stage 2: Individualism & Exchange

• Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships

• Stage 4: Maintaining the Social Order

• Stage 5 OR Stage 6: Postconventional Level

Elton found $1000 in the street and decides to turn it into the police because he hopes that if he ever lost his wallet that someone would do the same for him.

• Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment Orientation

• Stage 2: Individualism & Exchange

• Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships

• Stage 4: Maintaining the Social Order

• Stage 5 OR Stage 6: Postconventional Level

Mark saw a classmate cheat. He decides to tell the teacher because cheating is clearly against class policies and the rules also state that if you see cheating, you must report it per the classroom code of conduct. Mark, therefore, tells the teacher.

• Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment Orientation

• Stage 2: Individualism & Exchange

• Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships

• Stage 4: Maintaining the Social Order

• Stage 5 OR Stage 6: Postconventional Level

Regarding the debate about what to do regarding the situation in Libya, Mona feels that the United States should intervene militarily. She says “evil is on the march, and it would be morally wrong to allow it to continue so we should send in the Marines even if the United Nations and the rest of the world were to disagree.” On which level of moral reasoning is Mona is basing her reasoning?

• Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment Orientation

• Stage 2: Individualism & Exchange

• Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships

• Stage 4: Maintaining the Social Order

• Stage 5 OR Stage 6: Postconventional Level

Rocco disagrees with Mona and does not feel that we should intervene militarily in Libya. Rocco says, “although atrocities have been committed, it would be an even greater atrocity to wage war even if the United Nations and the rest of the world supported it."

• Stage 1: Obedience & Punishment Orientation

• Stage 2: Individualism & Exchange

• Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships

• Stage 4: Maintaining the Social Order

• Stage 5 OR Stage 6: Postconventional Level