Lawrence Kohlberg
Definition
Lawrence Kohlberg was an American psychologist best known for his theory of stages of moral development.
Analogy
Think of Lawrence Kohlberg as a tour guide who outlines the journey from childhood to adulthood in terms of moral growth. Just like a tour guide explains different landmarks (stages), Kohlberg explained how we progress morally as we age.
Related terms
Moral Development: This is the growth in one's ability to distinguish right from wrong, and to develop increasingly sophisticated appreciations of morality. It's like growing from seeing things in black-and-white into understanding shades of grey.
Heinz Dilemma: A hypothetical situation used by Kohlberg to measure moral reasoning where a man must decide whether or not to steal medicine he cannot afford to save his wife's life. It’s like a complex riddle that tests your ethical compass.
Justice Reasoning: This is reasoning based on rules, laws, and principles. It's akin to using a rulebook when deciding how to play fair in a game.
"Lawrence Kohlberg" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (6)
Why did Lawrence Kohlberg give kids the Heinz dilemma?
In what way did Carol Gilligan critique Lawrence Kohlberg’s moral development model as it pertains to adolescent girls?
According to Carol Gilligan, in which aspect did Lawrence Kohlberg’s model of moral development lack?
What does Carol Gilligan criticize about Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development?
What differentiates Albert Bandura’s social learning theory from Lawrence Kohlberg’s perspective on how children acquire morals?
How might Carol Gilligan critique Lawrence Kohlberg’s stages of moral development from a gender perspective?
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