Applications: Theory of Moral Development

We are always reminded that as teachers, we must mold holistic and well-rounded individuals. The applications of Kohlberg's and Gilligan's theory of moral development emphasize the affective side of our students to make them the kind of individuals we want them to be. Aside from molding the cognitive and behavioral sides of our students, the affective sides must also be developed. This will make us avoid producing "intellectual giants" but "emotional dwarfs" individuals.

1. Let the students realize that they are responsible for their moral development. Present them different anecdotes or examples that will inspire and teach them to be morally responsible with their own actions.

2. Give the students opportunities to hear different perspectives especially in deciding what is right or wrong. Have discussions, forums, debates, etc. about certain issues. This will be more meaningful if the issues are related to the students' lives.

3. Discuss issues in a multicultural or global perspective. Present them how are certain issues tackled in other cultures. Through this, students can widen their understanding and learn to respect different views and beliefs.

4. Most elementary and secondary school students are said to be in the stages 1 and 4 of moral development. We can actually use this in maintaining classroom management, behavior modification and establishing routines inside the classroom.

5. Be an example to the students. We must walk our talk so to speak. Values are caught than taught. So as teachers, we must present values and attitudes worth emulating.

6. It is easier said than done. Moral development is useless if not put into action. One of the criticisms of Kohlberg's theory is that he emphasized more on the reasoning and not on the practicability of morality. This is where Gilligan comes in. Let us teach our student the value of care for other people, as well as for themselves.

Carol Gilligan's Theory of Moral Development (Feminist View)

           This is the first post in this blog featuring a woman psychologist, and she is no other than Carol Gilligan.

Carol Gilligan...

          Carol Gilligan provides an alternative theory of moral development. She was the first to consider gender differences in her research in the mental processes of males and females in their moral development. She noted that girls are more concerned with care, relationships and connections with other people than boys. Thus, she hypothesized that girls are more inclined toward caring and boys toward justice. She presented three levels of moral development:

I. Pre Conventional: Individual Survival
One learns to care for oneself.

II. Conventional: Self Sacrifice is Goodness
One internalizes norms about care for others and tends to neglect oneself.

III. Post Conventional: Principle of Non-violence
One becomes critical of the conventions adopted in the conventional stage and learns to balance caring for self and caring for others.

image source: http://www.drury.edu/nltimage/CarolGilligan2.jpg