PSY 201 Lecture Notes - Lecture 21: Psy, Individualism, Equal Exchange
Document Summary
Kohlberg"s theory states that there are six stages of moral development that are universal. Pre-conventional reasoning is the lowest level of moral reasoning, according to. At this level, good and bad are interpreted in terms of external rewards and punishments. 1: heteronomous morality is the first stage in pre-conventional reasoning. At this stage, moral thinking is tied to punishment, with children believing they must obey or face punishment for disobedience. 2: individualism, instrumental purpose, and exchange define the second stage of pre-conventional reasoning. At this stage, individuals reason that pursuing their own interests is the right thing to do, but they let others do the same. Thus, they think that what is right involves an equal exchange. They reason that if they are nice to others, others will be nice in return. Conventional reasoning is the second or intermediate level in kohlberg"s theory of moral development.