Psychology of Altruism and Morality :: essays papers

Psychology of Altruism and MoralityThe two competing theoretical frameworks that attempt to pardon the development of morality are cognitive-behavioral and cognitive-developmental. The cognitive-behavioral approach is taken by Liebert, and the cognitive-developmental approach is taken by Kohlberg. Both sides have strong arguments that support their own theories and bear witness to tear apart the opposing theory.The cognitive-developmental approach has been studied extensively by LawrenceKohlberg. Through his studies using moral dilemmas, Kohlberg developed his sise stages ofmoral development. In these stages, Kohlberg concentrates on the reasons why people act the way they do not the way they think about their actions or what action they take, but the reasoning behind their actions.The six stages that Kohlberg defines are grouped into three levels, with two levels at each stage. They are grouped as follows Level 1 - Preconventional / Pre Moral*Stage 1 penalty & Obedience - Acti ons that are punished are wrong.*Stage 2 Instrumental Relativist Orientation - focus is on the self. How will my actions reward me? Level 2 - stately*Stage 3 People at stage three begin to value the respect of the opinion and values of other.*Stage 4 Law and say - Appreciation for rules, laws, and regulations of society. Level 3 - Post Conventional*Stage 5 Social Contrast Legalistic Orientation*Stage 6 Universal Ethical patternThese stages are important to Kohlbergs four most general beliefs. One of Kohlbergs first assertions is that people advance through these stages in an invariant sequence. overture through these stages occurs in order from 1 - 6, with no stages skipped, and there is no regression. Kohlbergs second assertion is that people cannot comprehend reasoning more than angiotensin converting enzyme stage ahead of their current stage. Kohlberg also believes that people are attracted to higher stage reasoning because it is more adequate, and finally, s tage movement is motivated by cognitive disequilibrium. The cognitive-developmental approach is supported by research through with(p) by Kohlberg and other researchers who have attempted to replicate Kohlbergs findings. One study conducted by hindquarters Snarey and Joseph Reimer attempted to prove the cultural universality of Kohlbergs stages. The study, conducted in Turkey, was a longitudinal study using ninety-two kibbutz-born Israelis. The results were consistent with Kohlbergs studies done in both the United States and Turkey, making the cultural universality argument stronger.Contradicting the cognitive-developmental approach is the cognitive-