Question

Jaclyn has thought long and hard, and she has developed her own ideas about moral behavior. She doesn't follow what other people want her to do—instead, she makes her own decisions based on her moral code. At Level 3, the principled level, people determine what is right based on their own values, not the values of those around them. In this case, Jaclyn is making decisions based on her own moral code, not the codes of people around her.

A. True
B. False

Answer 1

At the post-conventional level of Kohlberg's theory of moral development, individuals like Jaclyn make decisions based on their own set of values, which corresponds with the true statement that she follows her own moral code rather than the codes of those around her (A).

Step-by-step explanation:

In the scenario presented, Jaclyn is indeed making decisions based on her own moral code, which aligns with the description of Level 3, the principled level, in Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development. At this post-conventional level of moral reasoning, individuals determine what is right based on their internal set of values, rather than conforming to the external values imposed by society or authority figures. Given this understanding, the original statement about Jaclyn making decisions based on her own moral code not the codes of people around her is true.

Kohlberg posits that this level of moral reasoning is not attained by all; it requires a maturity of thought where legality and morality are distinguished and moral principles are defined by the individual's own perspective, sometimes in opposition to societal norms. It's important to differentiate between moral reasoning and moral behavior, as they may not always correlate. Moral reasoning is the process by which individuals think about ethical issues, while moral behavior is how they actually act in various situations, which may not always reflect their stated moral reasoning.