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INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENTINDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT

Dr. Engelberta Pardamean, Sp.KJ

Department of PsychiatryMedical Faculty, Pelita Harapan University

Moral Development TheoryMoral Development Theory(Lawrence Kohlberg’s (Lawrence Kohlberg’s

Theory)Theory)Morality refers to a code of conduct in

matters of right and wrong; a fundamental principle which is accordant to an individual’s conscience. In psychiatry, morality is the product of the super-ego.

Moral development includes the process of learning to adapt with the value system which is accepted by the society in which an individual lives.

Kohlberg’s theory holds that moral reasoning has six developmental stages, that can be grouped into three levels.I.Pre-conventional Level

Stage 1. Punishment and Obedience Orientation 2. Instrumental Exchange Orientation

II.Conventional LevelStage 3. Interpersonal Conformity Orientation 4. Law and Order Orientation

III.Post-conventional LevelStage 5. Social Contract Orientation

6. Universal Ethical Principles Orientation

Level I: Pre-conventionalLevel I: Pre-conventional

Stage 1. Punishment and Obedience OrientationPunishment and obedience orientation refers to a child’s simple understanding of moral: “Bad deeds reap punishment”. This stage’s moral behavior is to avoid punishment. This stage is mainly controlled by parents as authority figures. Reasons which are given to explain why the child is punished, often become insignificant to the child whose main objective is only to avoid punishment.

Stage 2. Instrumental Exchange OrientationThis phase occurs around pre-school age and marks the beginning of egocentrism. The child understands that doing the right thing may garner some rewards, aside from avoiding punishment. The action is self-interest driven. “Trade off” reasoning is the characteristic of moral conduct in the second stage. All good deeds have the purpose of serving the individual’s own interest.

Level II: ConventionalLevel II: Conventional

Stage 3. Interpersonal Conformity OrientationMoral behavior at this stage is important because it involves other people. Someone does the right thing because it is approved by others (authority figures and peers). Because the rules have not been comprehended, a child may convey them in the form of rituals concerning “bad luck” or “good luck”. Good deeds relate with “good luck”, whereas bad deeds relate with “bad luck”. This ritualistic thinking often helps to reduce anxiety and guilt that may begin to arise at this age.

Stage 4. Law and Order OrientationThis stage is called the “law and order” phase. A child in school age period may have better understanding of laws and social conventions, and may strive to be a good member of the society. According to Kohlberg, a few certain individuals who never underwent this phase, may rebel violently against social conventions up to the point where they had to be locked in jail.

Level III: Post-conventionalLevel III: Post-conventional

Stage 5. Social Contract OrientationThis young adult phase is no longer dominated by egocentrism of the earlier phase. Here, ethical principles in relation with self-worth determines an individual’s moral behavior. As a moral person, an individual will be deemed worthy by doing good deeds for other people. Social ethics and altruism become the drive that determine moral decisions.

Stage 6. Universal Ethical Principles OrientationThis is the highest phase in Kohlberg’s theory. The law and universal principles have significant impact in the development of an individual’s sense of justice. The essential moral conduct in this phase is the protection of human rights in accordance to an individual’s conscience.

In further development of this theory, Kohlberg added a seventh stage which he referred to as the Wise Man Stage. This stage is especially directed toward certain sensitive individuals who can determine any moral decision from a mystic-religious reflection.

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