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Warm-Up 10/26:

You are the sole provider for your family.
They are starving, and you have no money.
You know of a place where you can steal
bread, and you also know that you probably
won’t get caught. Do you do it? Explain
Learning Targets
•
•
To discuss Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral
Development.
To apply Kohlberg’s theory to the
characters in “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
Kohlberg’s Theory of
Moral Development
http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/kohlberg.htm
Level 1 - Preconventional Morality

As these stages are preconventional, they
are the basis for more advanced stages of
morality. That being said, smaller children
typically can be noted as functioning at these
stages (though some adults still operate at
these stages). The stages included in this
level are one and two.
Stage 1 - Obedience and Punishment

The earliest stage of moral development is
especially common in young children, but
adults are capable of expressing this type of
reasoning. At this stage, children see rules as
fixed and absolute. Obeying the rules is
important because it is a means to avoid
punishment.
Stage 2 - Individualism and Exchange

At this stage, children account for individual
points of view and judge actions based on
how they serve individual needs. Reciprocity
is possible, but only if it serves one's own
selfish interests.
Level 2 – Conventional Morality

Most people’s moral development ends at
some stage in this level (approx. 80%). The
stages included in this level are three and
four.
Stage 3 - Interpersonal Relationships

Often referred to as the "good boy-good girl"
orientation, this stage is focused on living up
to social expectations and roles. There is an
emphasis on conformity, being "nice," and
consideration of how choices influence
relationships.
Stage 4 - Maintaining Social Order

At this stage of moral development, people
begin to consider society as a whole when
making judgments. The focus is on
maintaining law and order by following the
rules, doing one’s duty, and respecting
authority.
Level 3 - Postconventional Morality

These stages are the most advanced. It is
estimated that roughly 10% of the population
will ever advance to either of the stages (five
and six) in level three.
Stage 5 - Social Contract and
Individual Rights

At this stage, people begin to account for the
differing values, opinions, and beliefs of other
people. Rules of law are important for
maintaining a society, but people operating at
stage five feel that members of the society
should agree upon these standards.
Stage 6 - Universal Principles

Kohlberg’s final level of moral reasoning is
based upon universal ethical principles and
abstract reasoning. At this stage, people
follow these internalized principles of justice,
even if they conflict with laws and rules.
Activity:



List all the characters from “The Yellow
Wallpaper.”
Identify each character’s most important action
thus far. For Jane, pick three actions (beginning,
middle, and end of story).
Work with two other students to determine at
which stage of development each character is
functioning.
Homework:

Answer this question: how did the activity of
learning about Kohlberg’s theory of moral
development and then applying it to the
literature help you to better understand the
story? Write 1-3 sentences.