kolburg psyc again...

Kohlberg has described three levels of moral development; preconventional, conventional, and post conventional. In the first stage, preconventional, a child, an adolescent, or an adult would be asked a simple question for instance about stealing and respond with an answer that parents or elders drill into their minds, such as its bad or wrong. Than later you might get a response stating the consequence of the reaction. For instance the child might say you shouldn't steal because you will get in trouble (2). These are steps one and two which take place during Kohlberg's first stage the preconventional level. The next level would be conventional and this level includes Mutual interpersonal exceptions, relationships, and interpersonal conformity (1). This would include the individuals' values on trust, their caring, and loyalty to others as a basis for their moral judgments. At stage three they would say things such as stealing would be ok if it helped someone. Then in stage four their response would be that stealing is wrong no matter who you're helping, and it is against the law no matter what. Then the last level would be the postconventional level. This includes the last two stages. In stage five you would see social contract or utility and individual rights. The individual might reason with the pre set values and laws, saying that in certain circumstances it could be ok to break the law (2). In stage six, which most adults never reach is a universal understanding of ethical principles. This individual would have developed moral judgments based on human rights. When faced with a dilemma between law and conscience, a personal conscience that he/ she have individualized would be followed (1).The variety of decisions in which Mrs. Jones would have to make about Mr. Thompson would follow Kohlberg's levels in the fact that she would think about the law and how no matter what he still broke the law. Then she would think about how he is as a person, and how he has made a name for himself. Which would be in stage three and then the law would come into her thinking as a means of stage four, and eventually her thinking would lead her to stage five where she would make a decision to either to turn him in to the law or not (1). I believe that the most important thing to consider in whether or not to send Mr. Thompson back to jail would be his morals and values now. I would consider what crime he committed and does he understand that what he did was wrong, and also does he now have the correct morals in order to not commit crimes again. These are the things I would consider. He seems to have turned his life around for the better, so honestly now I don not see a reason why she should turn him in other than, her feeling obligated to be a rightful citizen, but honestly he is not doing any harm. He has a business and a home its not like he is robbing people or living on the streets. I do not think I would call and turn him in because he seemed to of learned his lesson and keeps out of trouble now, and everyone deserves a second chance. My level of thinking would be in stage five where I would have individual reasons that apply to this situation that might not necessarily apply to another situation. I believe that this would be an accurate way of thinking, since every situation is different. Although in college most students have to obtain a higher level of thinking, not all college students obtain the same level of thinking. Some experts say that parents contribute in a vary small way to how a child thinks due to the parent-child relationships are often too power oriented (1). Others argue that peers have a great amount of influence on how a person's response could vary (3). I personally have encountered one instance where I had to choose to turn in someone for stealing or not, and although this wasn't for an ethical issue the person I caught stealing was in desperate need of the item, and I went up to this person, whom I had never met before and offered to pay of the item if they would not steal anymore. I know that they, might steal in the future but at least while I was around they didn't have to steal. I feel that this situation shows my thinking in step five where I understand the situation and am working to improve it. Work cited:1. Textbook2. http://faculty.plts.edu/gpence/html/kohlberg.htm3. http://www.vtaide.com/blessing/Kohlberg.htm