Question

Lawrence Kohlberg studied moral development by presenting children with a series of stories in which characters face moral dilemmas. What was the purpose of Kohlberg's study?

1) To understand how children make moral decisions
2) To determine the impact of moral dilemmas on children's behavior
3) To explore the relationship between moral development and cognitive development
4) To compare the moral reasoning of children from different cultures

Answer 1

The purpose of Kohlberg's study was to understand how children make moral decisions through the stages of preconventional, conventional, and postconventional moral reasoning. His work also examined the link between moral and cognitive development and was later expanded to address potential gender biases.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of Lawrence Kohlberg's study on moral development was to understand how children make moral decisions. Kohlberg presented children with moral dilemmas, such as the famous Heinz dilemma, to analyze their responses and determine the stages of moral reasoning that characterize the moral development. He identified three levels: preconventional, conventional, and postconventional. Differentiating between moral reasoning and moral behavior, Kohlberg's studies suggest that while individuals can articulate moral principles, their actions may not always align with these principles.

Kohlberg's theory also has implications for understanding the relationship between moral and cognitive development, as the stages correspond with different levels of cognitive maturity. Furthermore, his research initially focused on male subjects, which led to critiques regarding potential gender bias and prompted further studies by researchers like Carol Gilligan, who explored differences in moral reasoning between boys and girls.