Dr. Lawrence Kohlberg is best known for his dissertation for his masters where he observed the differences in morality in children during their developing years. This was a sharp contrast to Cognitive development and Behavior development, which were the popular sciences of the time amongst Psychologists. His experiments and observations, however, would help fill in missing gaps in previous theories, and open up a whole new field of study.
History
Lawrence Kohlberg was born on October 25, 1927 in New York. His father was a Jewish immigrant and his mother was an American Protestant. From age four to fourteen his parents were separated until they finally divorced in 1944. Despite this, he attended a well-respected High School, The Phillip’s Academy …show more content…
His disappearance is recorded on January 17, 1987, and his body was found in a pond near the airport in Winthrop, Massachusetts on April 8, 1987. After determining his identification through dental records, his death was ruled a suicide by drowning. (New York Times)
The Heinz Dilemma Kohlberg’s most famous story was known as the Heinz Dilemma and was about a man whose wife was dying. A Scientist had the cure and was willing to sell it to Heinz but the man did not have enough money. He asked all his friends and family for help, but was only able to raise half of the price. Heinz begged the scientist to let him pay half now and half at a later time, but he refused. The ending of the story was left up to the children. (Wong) Kohlberg asked them a series of questions on whether or not Heinz should steal the drugs, should he be arrested for breaking the law, and what if it was a stranger instead of Heinz’s wife. The questions were set up to see if the children could understand whether the protection of life was greater than breaking the law. (Wong)
The theory of Moral …show more content…
Stage five is called, “The Social Contract.” This means the person has created his or her own principles, and the choices they make are based on them, but within the law and what society approves of. It is by stage six; a person reaches what Kohlberg labeled as “Universal Ethics”. (Barger) Dr. Kohlberg believed the majority of people do not reach stage six. This is where a person has created his or her own set of morals, regardless of what society is morality. When a person reaches stage six, they are not afraid to stand up for these personal views of what is right and wrong. These individuals support Kohlberg’s presented notion, that life is greater than the established law. This includes human rights activists, people who want to reform the justice system, and people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for what they believe is right. (Crain)
Conclusion
Lawrence Kohlberg addressed the development of children from a different perspective that had never been studied before. Instead of looking how much a child could comprehend about their surrounding environment, he looked at their decision making in regards to their view of what was wrong and right. His theory was internalized into the already accepted theories, adding additional steps to a child’s growth and his presented stories are still used
History
Lawrence Kohlberg was born on October 25, 1927 in New York. His father was a Jewish immigrant and his mother was an American Protestant. From age four to fourteen his parents were separated until they finally divorced in 1944. Despite this, he attended a well-respected High School, The Phillip’s Academy …show more content…
His disappearance is recorded on January 17, 1987, and his body was found in a pond near the airport in Winthrop, Massachusetts on April 8, 1987. After determining his identification through dental records, his death was ruled a suicide by drowning. (New York Times)
The Heinz Dilemma Kohlberg’s most famous story was known as the Heinz Dilemma and was about a man whose wife was dying. A Scientist had the cure and was willing to sell it to Heinz but the man did not have enough money. He asked all his friends and family for help, but was only able to raise half of the price. Heinz begged the scientist to let him pay half now and half at a later time, but he refused. The ending of the story was left up to the children. (Wong) Kohlberg asked them a series of questions on whether or not Heinz should steal the drugs, should he be arrested for breaking the law, and what if it was a stranger instead of Heinz’s wife. The questions were set up to see if the children could understand whether the protection of life was greater than breaking the law. (Wong)
The theory of Moral …show more content…
Stage five is called, “The Social Contract.” This means the person has created his or her own principles, and the choices they make are based on them, but within the law and what society approves of. It is by stage six; a person reaches what Kohlberg labeled as “Universal Ethics”. (Barger) Dr. Kohlberg believed the majority of people do not reach stage six. This is where a person has created his or her own set of morals, regardless of what society is morality. When a person reaches stage six, they are not afraid to stand up for these personal views of what is right and wrong. These individuals support Kohlberg’s presented notion, that life is greater than the established law. This includes human rights activists, people who want to reform the justice system, and people who are willing to sacrifice their lives for what they believe is right. (Crain)
Conclusion
Lawrence Kohlberg addressed the development of children from a different perspective that had never been studied before. Instead of looking how much a child could comprehend about their surrounding environment, he looked at their decision making in regards to their view of what was wrong and right. His theory was internalized into the already accepted theories, adding additional steps to a child’s growth and his presented stories are still used