According to Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development, the conventional level represents a stage where morality is based on social norms and rules.
Kohlberg's Conventional Morality Stage
During the conventional morality stage (typically spanning ages 10-13 and beyond), individuals' moral reasoning focuses on:
- Maintaining social order and upholding laws and rules.
- Understanding the perspective of others and conforming to social expectations.
Reasons for Moral Behavior in Conventional Morality
Kohlberg identified two primary motivations for moral behavior during this stage:
- Gaining acceptance: Individuals act morally to be viewed positively by their social group (family, peers, society) and to fit in. They want to be seen as a "good boy" or "good girl."
- Avoiding censure by others: Individuals adhere to rules and laws primarily to avoid disapproval, punishment, or negative social judgment from authority figures or society.
These motivations reflect an understanding of social rules but are still externally focused, emphasizing social approval and the avoidance of negative consequences.
Important Questions from Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development
- Nakula, a 12 year old boy who lives in a community having 50 houses always actively takes part in the maintenance of cleanliness within community as he likes the 'good boy' praise that he receives from community elders. According to Kohlberg, Nakula is in this level of moral development
Match List - I with List - II.
List - I List - II (A) Obedience Orientation (I) Moral reasoning based on winning the approval of others (B) Interpersonal norms (II) Moral reasoning based on moral principles that apply to all (C) Social contract (III) Moral reasoning based on the belief that adults know what is right or wrong (D) Universal ethical principles (IV) Moral reasoning is based on the belief that laws are for the good of all members of society - Arrange in accordance with Kohlberg’s stages of moral understanding.
I. Instrumental purpose orientation.
II. Punishment and obedience orientation.
III. Social-order-maintaining orientation.
IV. Good boy-good girl orientation.
Codes : If a small child dropped his/her 'roti' in water then, the other small child will not be in favour of giving 'roti' to him/her. How ever an adolescent will agree to give him/her another 'roti' keeping in view his/her young age. This behaviour of the adolescent is :
- "When individuals believe that moral choices are not dependent on close ties to others and that rules must be enforced in the same manner for everyone and each person should uphold them".
The following statement is characteristic of which stage of Moral Development according to Kohlberg?
