This is basically an explanation on how my morals developed and how most people develop morals. Well, that is, based on Kohlberg's three levels of Morality:
LEVEL OF MORALITY:
1. Pre-conventional morality (typically very young children)
2. Conventional morality (older children, adolescents, and most adults)
3. Post-conventional morality (about 20 percent of the adult population)
HOW RULES ARE UNDERSTOOD:
1. The consequences determine morality; behavior that is rewarded is right; that which is punished is wrong.
2. Conformity to social norms is right, nonconformity is wrong.
3. Moral principles determined by the person are used to determine right and wrong and may disagree with
societal norms.
EXAMPLE:
1. A child who steals a toy from another child and does not get caught does not see that action as wrong.
2. A child criticizes his or her parent for speeding because speeding is against the posted laws.
3. A reporter who wrote a controversial story goes to jail rather than reveal the source's identity.
Personal Examples:
1. When I was young I wasn't truly punished for excessive talking, so I didn't see it as a disruption to others, however once punished for it, I realized my behavior had to change.
2. I often tell my parents to put their blinkers on when turning or switching lanes, because they don't even though it is the law! They listen to me then, but then they usually go back to their bad habits.
3. My belief is that homosexual couples should be able to get married, although this isn't a cultural norm for Catholics, but I believe what I believe.
