This project is based on Kohlberg's research on moral development and the levels or stages of moral development. Kohlberg (1981, 1985) focused on trying to determine if there were differences in the way that people reasoned about moral dilemmas, and if there were stages of moral reasoning that were at least partially age-related.
In this project, three subjects were interviewed using the Heinz story, with some additional questions. The first subject was a 9-year-old boy who is my nephew. He is an elementary school child in the fourth grade. The second subject was the daughter of a friend of mine, aged 15. She was a high school student. Finally, the third interview subject was a friend of mine, age 25, who is a nurse. There responses are presented in the following pages, then compared, and explored.
My nephew, J., was quite clear about what Heinz should do about his wife's problem. He said that Heinz should steal the drug, because it can save his wife. The primary concern for him was saving the life of someone Heinz cared for, because his answer to the second question was that Heinz should not steal the drug, because he didn't love his wife. He should not get in trouble for someone he did not love.
He also did not think that Heinz should save the life of a stranger by stealing the drug, because his wife would misunderstand this action, probably thinking that Heinz was in love with the other woman. In terms of the pet, J. also did not think that Heinz should steal the drug, because it was just a pet. He also noted that Heinz could just take it to see the veterinarian. This seems to indicate that J. did not understand that the veterinarian could not save the pet's life without the drug either. It seemed as though he thought the situation would be different and the veterinarian would have different options.
Finally, J. said that it was more important in making this kind of decision to find out whether somethi...