Question

A student does not really think about plagiarism as a true injustice to her fellow students. She believes it is acceptable because her close friends say that plagiarism is just a survival skill that everybody uses. Applying Kohlberg's theory of moral development, what level best identifies the student's judgment about plagiarism?

Answer 1

Answer:

Conventional

Explanation:

Kohlberg did some studies on morality and proposed a theory on moral development.

Kohlberg defined three different levels of morality (and each level consists in 2 stages).

These levels are

• Pre conventional
• Conventional
• Post conventional

In the preconventional level, the person's morality is externally controlled and therefore acts based on what the punishment will be (1st stage) or based on how good will it be for him/her to act in some way (2nd stage)

The conventional level stages also have to do with external controls but now the person thinks in function of ensuring positive relationships and societal order. The third stage here depends on the approval of others. The fourth stage has to do with accepting rules because they preserve the society order  and functioning.

The postconventional level stages are defined in more abstract principles or values. The 5th stage sees the world as a place with different values that must be respected. Finally the 6th stage is based in universal ethical abstract principles.

In this example, the student believes that plagiarism is acceptable because of what her friends think. We can see that her belief is influenced by external controls and she likely wants the approval of her peers and that's why she thinks that. Thus, we can say that she is in the conventional level of Kohlberg's theory.