The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne AP Language
Student Activity For this novel, you will keep a dialectical journal, or reader-response journal, of a different kind. You will chart each main character’s stages of moral development. Read the information below about Kohlberg’s six levels of moral development. In 1964, Lawrence Kohlberg argued that children progress through a sequence of stages, representing different orientations to moral rules and values. To study the development of moral judgment, Kohlberg devised hypothetical moral dilemmas. Each dilemma usually presents a conflict between obedience to law and response to human needs. Responses to these dilemmas are used to draw conclusions about the development of moral judgment. The dilemma below, “Henry’s Accident,” is patterned after the moral dilemmas Kohlberg used. Henry’s Accident Once there was a man named Henry, who lived in a small town. Early one morning Henry and his wife were driving to town along a winding country road. It was still very early in the morning, and the sun was just beginning to rise. A very heavy fog still covered the road, however. It was very difficult for Henry to see where he was driving. Suddenly, there was a sharp curve in the road. Henry lost control of the car. The car went off the road and crashed into a large oak tree. Henry was not hurt, but his wife was lying unconscious on the floor of the front seat. Henry did not know how badly she was hurt, but he was very worried because it might be hours before another car came along the isolated road. Henry’s car was completely smashed, and there were no other cars passing by on the road. There were no houses in sight. But Henry did see a small farm truck with the keys locked in it. So he broke the truck’s window, put his wife into the truck, and drove her to the hospital. Should Henry have stolen the truck? Why? On the basis of responses to dilemmas similar to this one, Kohlberg has identified six stages in the development of moral judgment. Definitions of the six stages, along with sample responses of each stage, follow. Notice that the stage of a person’s response is not determined by whether he says Henry should or should not have stolen the truck. Rather, orientations and concerns underlying the response determine the stage.
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Judgment Stage 1. Punishment and obedience orientation. Concern for obeying superior authority and for deference to superior power. The possibility of punishment as the chief concern in resolving moral dilemmas. Sample responses to “Should Henry have stolen the truck?”: No. The police might catch him and put him in jail. Yes. No one was around and he wouldn’t get caught. Stage 2. Egoistic and hedonistic orientation. Concern for satisfying one’s own needs. Occasionally a concern for satisfying the needs of others. An orientation to reciprocity (“You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.”) Sample responses to “Should Henry have stolen the truck?”: Yes. He had to get his wife to the hospital. He needs her to keep the house clean and to do the shopping. No. Someone would probably come by to help pretty soon. And anyway, if his wife died, he could probably find another one. Stage 3. “Good-boy” morality and approval orientation. Concern for pleasing and helping others. Conforming to stereotyped role images, such as the “good boy,” “good husband,” and so on. Sample responses to “Should Henry have stolen the truck?”: Yes. He was only trying to help his wife because he loved her. No. Taking the truck would make the farmer very angry. Stage 4. Law-and-order orientation. Concern for showing respect for authority. Concern for doing one’s duty and for maintaining the social order. Deference to laws and religious authority. Laws are seen as absolute, to be obeyed in all circumstances. Sample responses to “Should Henry have stolen the truck?”: No. Even though Henry was desperate, he broke the law. Yes. It was Henry’s duty to save his wife. God wants every man to do his duty to his wife. Stage 5. Contractual, democratic orientation. Concern for individual rights and the general welfare of society. Laws are seen as valid because they have been democratically agreed upon and have a rational basis. Sample responses to “Should Henry have stolen the truck?”:
No. Henry may have been desperate, but the rights of the farmer who owned the truck must be respected. Yes. The farmer owned the truck, but the wife’s need for medical care was more important. Stage 6. Conscience of principle orientation. Concern for living up to self-chosen moral principles, such as the Golden Rule or the greatest good for the greatest number of people. The value of human life is primary. Sample responses to “Should Henry have stolen the truck?”: Yes. The value of human life always takes precedence over obedience to laws and property rights. Yes. If Henry had not taken is wife to the hospital, he would have condemned himself for not making every effort to preserve a human life. Here is another way of looking at the six stages: Stage of moral development I. Selfish obedience Issue of moral concern Rules followed to avoid punishment; obedience and concern for physical consequences Doing things for others because it will result in others doing things in return; concern for reward, equal sharing and benefit to self Whatever pleases the majority is considered morally right; other viewpoints can be seen, but conformity is prized, desire to do things for others. Group authority, law, duty, and rules of society prized; concern for maintaining social order for its own sake; social disapproval avoided; emphasis on the inherent “rightness” of rules and duties Internal commitment to principles of personal conscience; concern with individual rights within standards set by consensus; emphasis on fair procedures for reaching consensus and for evaluating principles and rules Concern with universal ethical principles and abstract morality affecting all beings regardless of conventional views; emphasis on universality, consistency, and logical comprehensiveness
II. Selfish obedience
III. Conforming to traditions
IV. Conforming to traditions
V. Moral principles beyond conformity
VI. Moral principles beyond conformity
To put Kohlberg’s moral stages into perspective, it is appropriate to mention two criticisms. One is that it does not take into account emotions which may be critical motivators for our actions but concentrates on moral reasoning. People of different temperaments may respond differently even if at the same moral stage. Another criticism of Kohlberg’s theory is that it is biased toward Western cultures. Some non-Western cultures do not value individualism and would not see challenging society’s rules as a “higher” stage of morality. Do we regard these societies as at a lower moral stage? Determine the levels of moral development: What is the stage of moral development for the speaker of each of the following statements? 1._____You shouldn’t fight because you could get hurt. 2._____I drink because all my friends do. 3._____It is wrong to take what belongs to others under any circumstances. 4._____When my country says, “Go to war,” I’ll go. 5._____You shouldn’t steal because you might go to jail. 6._____I refuse to fight in an immoral war. 7._____Even though it might be unfair to some, that’s the rule. 8._____I will continue to pay this unfair tax but will work to get it changed. 9._____Everyone has a right to be taken care of in old age, unless they are criminals. 10.____Everyone in our organization gave to the charity. I couldn’t very well not give. 11.____Always do what your parents say so they won’t punish you. 12.____People have an obligation to take care of their parents when they are elderly whatever the circumstances. 13.____I don’t cheat on tests because my parents might think less of me. 14.____It’s fine to cheat if you don’t get caught. 15.____Cheating is always immoral. 16.____I give to charity because it gives me a tax deduction.
As you read the novel The Scarlet Letter, you will keep a dialectical journal charting different characters’ moral development, according to Kohlberg’s stages. Here are your directions: Use characters from this list, but a character can be used only once: Hester Arthur Dimmesdale Pearl Roger Chillingworth Reverend Wilson Governor Bellingham Mistress Hibbins The ship captain The gossips The townspeople in general
Stage Stage 6: Conscience or Principle
Character
Text reference
Explanation
Stage 5: Contractual, Democratic
Stage 4: Law and Order
Stage 3: “Goodboy” and Approval
Stage 2: Egoistic and Hedonistic
Stage 1: Punishment and Obedience