Gilligan's Model Of Moral Development Essay

Kohlberg’s model of moral development is intriguing, with respects to the progression of morals throughout the life of individuals (Williams & Arrigo, 2012). My daughters are four years apart in age, the different levels of maturity and moral development is evident as Kohlberg in comparing their characteristics to Kohlberg’s model while recalling the different stages they went through growing up. In my experience, however, there are several individuals that have not progressed as Kohlberg suggests with age. There are individuals that appear stuck within level 1 or revert back to level 1 while taking actions that are purely self-interest driven.

Carol Gilligan presented an excellent argument, Kohlberg’s model is biased with respect to the studied individuals (Williams & Arrigo, 2012). Gilligan felt females progressed differently through moral development, citing that Kohlberg’s model is based on following rules, concerns about judgment, as well as rights. Gilligan presented a model if used in conjunction with Kohlberg’s model could provide a more accurate depiction of moral development that would be unbiased. Gilligan’s model of moral development studies the development of women through ethics and morals based on caring, compassion, as well as intimacy, citing that women are biologically different from men and should be viewed differently.
Who could be a fair judge of internalized thinking, moreover, who could determine if the actions of an individual were taken in the efforts for the greater good? Civil disobedience, as well as law breaking, is not always taken due to a higher moral thought process, nor can it be determined emphatically, the actions were of superior moral behavior at the moment of the