This journal essentially discusses the Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development named after the Famous Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget. Kohlberg. Kohlberg’s theory has six stages and three levels which analyze the moral behavior of a human being in depth. I apply the Kohlberg’s theory to myself and my life and try to asses to which level and stage I belong to. In a nutshell I gauge the relevance of the theory so widespread and popular.
There are six stages and three levels in Kohlberg’s theory of moral reasoning (Cherry, n.d.). It says that everyone goes through the stages in sequence without missing any stage. I believe, after through examination, study and self-analysis, currently I fall under the fifth stage and level three. I come under come stage five because before making decisions I take my time and think about the laws, repercussions and the available alternatives. My decisions in the end may not be right, but I follow a thought process and evaluate outcomes and regard laws and regulations applicable. For example, in my family we have a limitation of not going out after nine in the night. So when at times I have to go out late in the evening I have to give appropriate explanation. But besides the explanation I serve to my elders, I also think if I should go out with my friends, I also think about all the outcomes before I take the final call. My decision is based upon the fifth stage of moral reasoning because I ponder over all the alternatives available and necessity of my action.
Sometimes I do go wrong with my decisions, but like we studied that bad behavior and wrong decisions teach us a lot and are less likely to happen again once we learn from them. So my decision will not be the same if the same thing happens again. For example in my culture to chat with a boy or play with a boy is considered bad. When I came to the U.S.A it was totally different here, so now I interact with boys but I also take into consideration that what are the possible outcome? Does my culture permit this? How will my parents react to this? Indeed I myself took this initiative and opportunity to educate my family that there is nothing wrong in interacting with males and they understand. They can call me, and if I need something I call them from school or work. I want to break the barrier between us, so I just tell them whatever I have in my mind and explain it to my parents whenever I feel like or whenever the need arises. Now I have many male friends. All my friends are from school or work. My family is fine with it, because I have explained to them the culture prevalent in the U.S.A. I made the decision after envisaging and lots of thinking. Initially, I was shy and uncomfortable because my of the ‘No Opposite Sex’ interaction belief widespread in our society. So whenever I talk to a male I take all the conditions under consideration like my values, my society, my family and maintain a distance enough to preserve them all on one hand and not to eel out of place on the other. In Yemen, Saudi Arabia we have laws of society, like banishment from the government and severe punishments like head shave. In U.S talking to a male or hanging around one is something very normal and common. So my decision to have male friends was derived after thinking about an alternative. Now Sometime I even feel that male friends are better than female one. My forward looking approach, through thought procedure and process of making decisions after taking into account all the alternatives almost prove that I fall under the fifth stage and third level of the theory which seems quite relevant to me.
References
Cherry Kendra. (n.d.). Kohlberg’s Theory Of Moral development. About.com. Retrieved September 26, 2012, from http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsychology/a/kohlberg.htm
