Summary Of Kohlberg's Moral Development Theory

Introduction How can theories be used to explain the concept of resilience? Or, in this case, how can Kohlberg’s theory of moral development be used to explain the concept of resilience in David’s life from The Lost Boy? Kohlberg’s Moral Development theory was chosen due to David’s struggle growing up in a house with abuse. Throughout the story David has trouble with making “right” and “wrong” decisions. David faces his choices and why he has made them throughout The Lost Boy (Pelzer, 2002). Through David’s choices and the reasons for his choices he works his way towards becoming resilient to the hardships in his life.

Objective Summary In the book The Lost Boy, early on in his life David Pelzer is subjected to abuse by his mother.
5). The first is about the rewards versus the punishments of an action that the child takes (Kohlberg, 2015, p. 5). If the rewards outway the costs or punishments of an action the child is more likely to act (Kohlberg, 2015, p. 5). This relates to David early on in the book The Lost Boy, by Dave Pelzer (2002). David makes choices based on whether he thinks he will be punished by his abusive mother (Pelzer, 2002). In the first chapter, David was forced to choose whether to run away or stay with his abusive mother (Pelzer, 2002). He weighed his options based on either staying with his extremely abusive mother or leaving and taking his chances in the outside world where there was a lot of uncertainty (Pelzer, 2002). He chose to run, with some prodding from his mother (Pelzer, 2002). The second stage in Kohlberg’s Moral Development theory is about satisfying the needs of the individual (Kohlberg, 2015, p. 5). In The Lost Boy, throughout his time in foster care Dave steals, even though he knows he’s wrong, so that he can “fit in” with the other kids at school (Pelzer,
6). During stage three, this is when decisions on moral actions are driven by approval, and what the developing person feels is good for others (Kohlberg, 2015, p. 6). In The Lost Boy, David makes the decision to take back his story of abuse from his mother that he told to the Social Worker that was on his case (2002, Pelzer). He made the decision to take back his story and claim that he was at fault for the abuse right before his trial to become a ward of the state (2002, Pelzer). David’s choice was made because he felt that was what was right for his family, he didn’t want to bring anything bad onto his family for telling the truth (2002, Pelzer). During stage four, the developing person makes their decisions to “maintain social order,” which means that they will act on their morals based on what society needs (Kohlberg, 2015, p. 6). In The Lost Boy, David was in a foster home as a teen making his own way in the world, he was making money and saving up for when he turned 18 and would be out of the foster care system (Pelzer, 2002). Then, some new foster siblings came in with no respect of others, and began to steal David’s savings (Pelzer, 2002). In order to get back some order in his life, where he is able to make money and keep it, he chose to leave this foster home and move to another (Pelzer,