Question

ABOIT 150 WORD RESPONSE

Name and explain the moral reasoning stage within Kohlberg’s theory that typical adolescents are entering in their early teen years (13 – 15). How does this impact behavior and relationships? (provide specific examples of typical behavior with social relationships).

Answer 1

According to Kohelberg's theory, at about age of 13-15 years, an individual go through second level of moral development which is called ''​​​​​Morality of conventional Role conformity''.​​​​​

At this age, Adolescents are better able to judge and evaluate the world around them as cognitive skills of them are in continious development. This level is itself divided into two stages. These two stages are Stage of good boy and stage of conforming norms .

Stage of good boy' - Adolescents  become concerned with obedience to authority in the hope that others will approve of their actions. They want to have and maintain good image.

Example - lets imagine Maria in a situation where she had to steal the drug (scarcity of money) otherwise his husband would die out of deadly disease. Maria has to choose one option either of them

In this Good boy stage, Maria may think that if she stole the drug everyone will think that she is a criminal and she will dishonor to the family. She may also think that If she didn't steal the drug, her husband would die and everyone will think that she is inhuman wife .

Note that Maria is concerned about her good image, irrespective of the option she chooses.

Stage of conforming norms - Stage of good boy soon turns out to this stage. In this, Adolescents often talk about the importance of duties and obligation and concerned about the value of maintaining social order for its own sake.

Example - In the above mentioned situation of Maria, In this stage she may think to steal the drug because if she doesn't, she would feel that she is not doing her duties to her husband. On the other hand, She may think that If she stole the drug she might go to jail and she will feel guilty for lawbreaking and dishonesty.

Note that Maria is concerned about conforming to the norms. Whether these norms are personal ( duties to her husband ) or these norms are of society ( law breaking) .