Question

Brad is in an electronics store with his parents. He looks at the CDs and thinks for a moment that he could grab one and put it beneath his coat. As he considers this possibility, he decides not to do it because he might get caught, and his parents would punish him. What stage of Kohlberg's moral development does Brad's decision represent? conventional postconventional preoperational preconventional integrity vs dishonesty

Answer 1

Brad's consideration of stealing a CD and deciding not to because of potential punishment corresponds to the preconventional level in Kohlberg's theory of moral development, where decisions are made based on personal consequences rather than societal norms or ethical principles.

Step-by-step explanation:

The scenario presented with Brad contemplating stealing a CD and then deciding against it because he might get caught and punished by his parents represents Kohlberg's preconventional level of moral development. Brad's decision is based on immediate personal consequences of being caught, rather than a sense of right or wrong, societal rules, or ethical principles.

Understanding Kohlberg's Stages

• In the preconventional stage, moral reasoning is based on avoiding punishment and seeking personal gain.
• The conventional level involves conforming to societal norms and the expectations of others.
• The postconventional stage is characterized by abstract reasoning and principles that can sometimes transcend legal boundaries, recognizing the potential for the law to be unjust.

According to Kohlberg's theory, Brad is likely operating at the preconventional level. This stage is typically seen in children but can also be present in the reasoning of adolescents and adults depending on the context and complexity of the moral decision being made.

Answer 2

Preconventional level (avoiding punishment stage)

Step-by-step explanation:

Kohlberg did some studies on morality and proposed a theory on moral development.

Kohlberg defined three different levels of morality (and each level consists in 2 stages). These levels are:

• preconventional,

• conventional and

• postconventional

In the preconventional level, the person's morality is externally controlled and therefore acts based on what the punishment will be (1st stage) or based on what good will be for him/her by acting in some way (2nd stage)

The conventional level stages also have to to with external controls but now the person thinks in function of ensure positive relationships and societal order. The third stage here depends on the approval of others. The fourth stage has to do with accepting rules because they preserve the society order and functioning.

The postconventional level stages are defined in more abstract principles or values. The 5th stage sees the world as a place with different values that must be respected. Finally the 6th stage is based in universal ethical abstract principles.

In the question, Brad decides not to grab and steal a CD because if he got caught, his parents would punish him, he is acting based on external control, therefore his decision represents the preconventional level. (particularly the 1st stage of avoiding punishment).