Question 1

The three distinct levels of moral reasoning that Kohlberg proposed are:
A) preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational.
B) legal principles, universal moral principles, and law and order principles.
C) preconventional, conventional, and postconventional.
D) abstract thinking, rational thinking, and logical reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg proposed three distinct levels of moral reasoning: preconventional (based on self-interest and avoiding punishment), conventional (focused on societal norms and expectations), and postconventional (based on universal ethics and individual values). Options A, B, and D are not accurate descriptions of Kohlberg's levels of moral reasoning.

Question 2

Frank always buys a fishing license before going fishing because authorities established the fishing laws and Frank believes laws should be obeyed. In terms of Kohlberg's theory, Frank is at the _____ level of moral reasoning.
A) postconventional
B) concrete operational
C) preconventional
D) conventional

Accepted Answer

Frank's decision to obey the fishing laws can be attributed to his desire to conform to societal norms and rules, which is characteristic of the conventional level of moral reasoning in Kohlberg's theory. This level is typically evident in adolescence and early adulthood when individuals prioritize maintaining social order and following the law. The preconventional level would involve making decisions based on avoiding punishment or seeking rewards, while the postconventional level would involve making decisions based on individual rights and ethical principles beyond societal laws. The concrete operational level refers to Piaget's theory of cognitive development and is not related to moral reasoning.

Question 3

According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, there are _____ levels of moral reasoning, and each level has _____ stages that represent different degrees of sophistication in moral reasoning.
A) three; two
B) eight; two
C) four; three
D) two; three

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg's theory of moral development consists of three levels: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional. Each level contains two stages, making a total of six stages.

Question 4

Renee likes helping her teacher with classroom chores, and enjoys the praise she gets for being a good student and for following the rules set by her teacher. Kohlberg would say that Renee is operating at the ______ level of moral reasoning.
A) conventional
B) preoperational
C) preconventional
D) postconventional

Accepted Answer

The conventional level of moral reasoning is characterized by a desire to please others and follow society's norms and rules. Renee's behavior of helping her teacher with classroom chores and seeking praise for being a good student aligns with this level of reasoning.

Question 5

When nine-year-old Jacob is asked by his mother to tidy up his room and put his toys away, he does what he is told because he knows that she will give him a special treat afterward. Kohlberg would say that Jacob is operating at the _____ level of moral reasoning.
A) conventional
B) preoperational
C) preconventional
D) postconventional

Accepted Answer

Jacob is following the rules to avoid punishment and gain a reward, which is characteristic of the preconventional level of moral reasoning.

Question 6

In Kohlberg's theory of the development of moral reasoning, the preconventional level is characterized by:
A) moral reasoning based on self-interest, avoiding punishment, and maximizing personal gain.
B) concern for the rights of all members of society.
C) moral reasoning guided by conformity to social roles, rules, and expectations.
D) internalization of values or rules.

Accepted Answer

The preconventional level of moral reasoning is characterized by a focus on self-interest, avoiding punishment, and maximizing personal gain. Individuals at this level make moral decisions based on what will benefit them personally and avoid negative consequences for their actions. This level is typically seen in young children and can be observed in their behavior as they learn about rules and consequences.

Question 7

In Kohlberg's theory of the development of moral reasoning, the conventional level is characterized by:
A) moral reasoning based on self-interest, avoiding punishment, and maximizing personal gain.
B) concern for the rights of all members of society.
C) moral reasoning guided by conformity to social roles, rules, obligations, and expectations.
D) self-chosen ethical principles that reflect the person's respect for ideals such as nonviolence, equality, and democratically determined laws.

Accepted Answer

The conventional level of moral reasoning, according to Kohlberg, is characterized by conformity to social roles, rules, obligations, and expectations. At this level, individuals are concerned with maintaining social order and fulfilling their duties to others within their social group. This level is distinct from the pre-conventional level, which is characterized by moral reasoning based on self-interest and avoiding punishment, and the post-conventional level, which is characterized by the development of self-chosen ethical principles. Therefore, option C is the best choice.

Question 8

Carol Gilligan's main criticism of Kohlberg's theory of moral development is that:
A) it reflects a male perspective that may not accurately depict the development of moral reasoning in women.
B) it places too much emphasis on the ethic of care and responsibility and not enough on the ethic of individual rights and justice.
C) it reflects a female perspective that may not accurately depict the development of moral reasoning in men.
D) it places too much emphasis on the concept of interdependence and concern for the overall welfare of others rather than on the more common individualistic ideals of Western culture.

Accepted Answer

Carol Gilligan argued that Kohlberg's theory of moral development was biased towards a male perspective and did not adequately account for the moral reasoning of women. She posited that women tend to prioritize relationships and caring for others over abstract principles such as justice, which Kohlberg focused on in his theory. Therefore, option A accurately summarizes Gilligan's main criticism. Options B, C, and D do not accurately reflect her critique.

Question 9

Cross-cultural psychologists have noted that:
A) collectivistic cultures tend to stress interdependence and concern for the welfare of others and put less emphasis on individual rights and justice.
B) collectivistic cultures tend to stress the ethic of individual rights and justice rather than the ethic of care and responsibility.
C) individualistic cultures tend to stress interdependence and concern for the welfare of others and put less emphasis on individual rights and justice.
D) individualistic cultures, but not collectivistic cultures, put more emphasis on moral reasoning than on actual real-life moral behavior.

Accepted Answer

Cross-cultural psychologists have found that collectivistic cultures tend to prioritize the well-being of their community or group over individualism. This includes valuing interdependence and cooperation, as well as the concept of "saving face" or maintaining social harmony, which can sometimes conflict with emphasizing individual rights and justice.

Question 10

Punishment and obedience are to the _____ level as internalized legal and moral principles are to the _____ level in Kohlberg's theory of moral development.
A) postconventional; conventional
B) preconventional; postconventional
C) conventional; preconventional
D) preconventional; conventional

Accepted Answer

In Kohlberg's theory, the preconventional level is characterized by a focus on punishment and obedience, while the postconventional level involves internalized legal and moral principles.

Question 11

Kohlberg and his colleagues eventually dropped stage 6 from his theory of moral reasoning because:
A) longitudinal research showed that none of the participants showed stage 6 moral reasoning, and clear-cut expressions of "universal moral principles" are very rare.
B) other researchers, such as Carol Gilligan, argued that stage 6 was more typical of male moral reasoning and did not reflect how females reasoned.
C) the longitudinal research needed to support stage 6 moral reasoning in Kohlberg's theory was never carried out.
D) other researchers, such as Carol Gilligan, argued that stage 6 was more typical of female moral reasoning and did not reflect how males reasoned.

Accepted Answer

Longitudinal research showed that none of the participants showed stage 6 moral reasoning, and clear-cut expressions of "universal moral principles" are very rare. Therefore, the concept of stage 6 was dropped from Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning.

Question 12

Law and order are to the _____ level as internalized universal moral principles are to the _____ level in Kohlberg's theory of moral development.
A) postconventional; conventional
B) conventional; postconventional
C) conventional; preconventional
D) preconventional; conventional

Accepted Answer

According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, law and order represent the conventional level of moral reasoning, while internalized universal moral principles represent the postconventional level. Therefore, the correct answer is B.

Question 13

Drs. Kreb and Denton have criticized Kohlberg's theory of moral development, pointing out that the most important limitation of the theory is that:
A) because of the process of pruning during adolescence, the vast majority of young people do not have enough white matter in the prefrontal cortex to develop the capacity for moral reasoning.
B) it is biased by its emphasis on the ethic of care and responsibility rather than the ethic of individual rights and justice.
C) moral reasoning doesn't always predict moral behavior; people don't necessarily respond to real-life dilemmas in the same way that they do to hypothetical dilemmas that are used to test moral reasoning.
D) moral reasoning is not operationally defined, and it is therefore difficult to conduct empirical research on the topic.

Accepted Answer

Drs. Kreb and Denton have criticized Kohlberg's theory because they believe that moral reasoning doesn't always predict moral behavior. In other words, people don't necessarily respond to real-life dilemmas in the same way that they do to hypothetical dilemmas that are used to test moral reasoning. This suggests a limitation of Kohlberg's theory - while it may be useful to understand how people reason about moral issues, it may not tell us much about how people actually behave in moral situations.

Question 14

According to Carol Gilligan's model of moral development:
A) women, more than men, tend to stress the importance of maintaining interpersonal relationships and responding to the needs of others.
B) men and women have very similar approaches to moral reasoning, and both use a mix of care and justice perspectives.
C) men, more than women, tend to stress the importance of maintaining interpersonal relationships and responding to the needs of others.
D) moral reasoning predicts moral behavior for men but not for women.

Accepted Answer

According to Carol Gilligan's model of moral development, women tend to emphasize care and responsibility for others, and see morality as rooted in preserving relationships and avoiding harm. Men, in contrast, tend to prioritize justice and fairness, and see morality as based on principles and rules. This is not to say that all women use a care perspective and all men use a justice perspective, but rather that there are gender-based differences in how moral reasoning is approached.

Question 15

Kyle is eight years old, and when playing games with his classmates, he believes that they should all obey the rules of the games so that it is fair for everyone. Kyle's beliefs reflect which level in Kohlberg's model of moral reasoning?
A) the preoperational level
B) the conventional level
C) the formal operational level
D) the preconventional level

Accepted Answer

Kyle's belief that everyone should follow the rules in order to make the game fair for everyone is consistent with the preconventional level of moral reasoning. At this level, individuals focus on avoiding punishment and gaining rewards, and their moral judgments are based on self-interest. Kyle's belief that everyone should follow the rules is motivated by a desire to ensure that he and his classmates are treated fairly, which is consistent with the preconventional level of reasoning.

Question 16

Researchers at State University are conducting a meta-analysis of studies on gender differences in moral reasoning. If their results are consistent with previous research, they are likely to find that:
A) men and women have entirely different approaches to moral reasoning.
B) there are only slight differences in male and female responses to moral dilemmas, and both males and females use a mix of justice and care perspectives.
C) men, more than women, tend to stress the importance of maintaining interpersonal relationships and responding to the needs of others.
D) moral reasoning predicts moral behavior for women but not for men.

Accepted Answer

Previous research on gender differences in moral reasoning has generally found only slight differences between men and women. Both genders tend to use a mix of justice and care perspectives in their moral reasoning. Therefore, it is likely that the meta-analysis conducted by the researchers at State University will also find that there are only slight differences in male and female responses to moral dilemmas.

Question 17

Moral reasoning at the _____ level of Kohlberg's theory is characterized by the idea that "right" is being a "good" person and that conforming to social expectations and following rules set by others will win their approval.
A) conventional
B) preoperational
C) postconventional
D) preconventional

Accepted Answer

This is because conventional moral reasoning, which is the second level in Kohlberg's theory, is focused on conforming to social norms and expectations in order to gain approval and maintain social order. The preoperational stage (B) is a stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development, not Kohlberg's theory of moral development. Postconventional (C) reasoning is characterized by an individual's own personal ethical principles and may go against societal norms. Preconventional (D) reasoning is focused on obeying rules in order to avoid punishment.

Question 18

The postconventional level in Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning is characterized by moral reasoning:
A) based on self-interest and on avoiding punishment and maximizing personal gain.
B) that is guided by external consequences with no internalization of values or rules.
C) guided by conformity to social roles, rules, obligations, and expectations.
D) that is guided by internalized legal and moral principles that protect the rights of all members of society.

Accepted Answer

The postconventional level in Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning is characterized by moral reasoning that is guided by internalized legal and moral principles that protect the rights of all members of society. This level of moral reasoning goes beyond social conformity and focuses on the individual's own moral principles and values. It involves a recognition and acceptance of universal ethical principles, regardless of rules or laws that may be in place.

Question 19

Each level in Kohlberg's theory of the development of moral reasoning is based on the degree to which a person:
A) conforms to conventional standards of society.
B) can think logically, rationally, and deal with abstract concepts.
C) obeys the law.
D) has resolved the major psychosocial conflicts associated with each developmental stage he or she has passed through.

Accepted Answer

Kohlberg's theory of moral development is based on the idea that moral reasoning progresses through stages that reflect the degree to which a person conforms to societal standards and expectations.

Question 20

Carol Gilligan's theory of moral development in women stressed the importance of:
A) the ethic of care and responsibility.
B) the ethic of individual rights and justice.
C) cultural factors in moral reasoning.
D) genetic influences on the development of moral reasoning.

Accepted Answer

Carol Gilligan's theory of moral development in women emphasized the ethic of care and responsibility, which highlights the importance of nurturing relationships and prioritizing the needs and feelings of others. This is in contrast to the traditional male-centric view of morality that emphasizes individual rights and justice. Gilligan argued that women's tendency to focus on caring for others can lead to a different type of moral reasoning than men, and that this perspective should be valued and recognized. Cultural factors may also play a role in shaping moral reasoning, but Gilligan's primary focus was on gender differences in morality. Genetic influences are not typically considered central to discussions of moral development.

Quiz 9: Lifespan Development

The three distinct levels of moral reasoning that Kohlberg proposed are:

Frank always buys a fishing license before going fishing because authorities established the fishing laws and Frank believes laws should be obeyed. In terms of Kohlberg's theory, Frank is at the _____ level of moral reasoning.

According to Kohlberg's theory of moral development, there are _ levels of moral reasoning, and each level has _ stages that represent different degrees of sophistication in moral reasoning.

Renee likes helping her teacher with classroom chores, and enjoys the praise she gets for being a good student and for following the rules set by her teacher. Kohlberg would say that Renee is operating at the ______ level of moral reasoning.

When nine-year-old Jacob is asked by his mother to tidy up his room and put his toys away, he does what he is told because he knows that she will give him a special treat afterward. Kohlberg would say that Jacob is operating at the _____ level of moral reasoning.

In Kohlberg's theory of the development of moral reasoning, the preconventional level is characterized by:

In Kohlberg's theory of the development of moral reasoning, the conventional level is characterized by:

Carol Gilligan's main criticism of Kohlberg's theory of moral development is that:

Cross-cultural psychologists have noted that:

Punishment and obedience are to the _ level as internalized legal and moral principles are to the _ level in Kohlberg's theory of moral development.

Kohlberg and his colleagues eventually dropped stage 6 from his theory of moral reasoning because:

Law and order are to the _ level as internalized universal moral principles are to the _ level in Kohlberg's theory of moral development.

Drs. Kreb and Denton have criticized Kohlberg's theory of moral development, pointing out that the most important limitation of the theory is that:

According to Carol Gilligan's model of moral development:

Kyle is eight years old, and when playing games with his classmates, he believes that they should all obey the rules of the games so that it is fair for everyone. Kyle's beliefs reflect which level in Kohlberg's model of moral reasoning?

Researchers at State University are conducting a meta-analysis of studies on gender differences in moral reasoning. If their results are consistent with previous research, they are likely to find that:

Moral reasoning at the _____ level of Kohlberg's theory is characterized by the idea that "right" is being a "good" person and that conforming to social expectations and following rules set by others will win their approval.

The postconventional level in Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning is characterized by moral reasoning:

Each level in Kohlberg's theory of the development of moral reasoning is based on the degree to which a person:

Carol Gilligan's theory of moral development in women stressed the importance of: