Describe two types of biases that critics have leveled at Kholberg's Theory of Moral Development:
- One type of bias that has been claimed to be contained in Lawrence Kholberg's Theory of Moral Development is a gender bias. Carol Gilligan claimed that the research and studies that went in to his theory contained a sample of "only privileged white boys and men" (Webster). Gilligan, who was a research assistant for Kholburg in the 1970's while teaching at Harvard University, claimed that this caused a bias towards women, and that the fact that they were excluded from the study gave Kholberg's study less validity.
- Gilligan also stated that "the male view of individual rights and rules was considered a higher stage [in his theory] than a women's point of view of development in terms of caring and its effect on human relationships" (Webster). She concluded that the standard for moral development of men and women were very different, and to make an accurate study, the two genders need to be looked at separately.
Imaginary Audience
The imaginary audience stems off of the idea of egocentricism. It is extremely prevalent in teenagers and tweens. The imaginary audience describes how an insecure adolescent takes his feelings and places them into his peers and surroundings. For example, "if the teen or tween is feeling self-critical, [he/she] thinks that others will be highly judgmental of [his/her] behavior or appearance" (Fraser-Thill). On the contrary, "When she is in a self-adoring mood, [he/she] thinks that others will be equally wrapped up in [his/her] beauty, grace and magnetic personality" (Fraser-Thill). Essentially, adolescents feel that the entire world revolves around how they feel.
The imaginary audience stems off of the idea of egocentricism. It is extremely prevalent in teenagers and tweens. The imaginary audience describes how an insecure adolescent takes his feelings and places them into his peers and surroundings. For example, "if the teen or tween is feeling self-critical, [he/she] thinks that others will be highly judgmental of [his/her] behavior or appearance" (Fraser-Thill). On the contrary, "When she is in a self-adoring mood, [he/she] thinks that others will be equally wrapped up in [his/her] beauty, grace and magnetic personality" (Fraser-Thill). Essentially, adolescents feel that the entire world revolves around how they feel.
Personal Fable
Personal fable is another term closely related with egocentricsim in adolescents. It was first defined by Jewish-American child-psychologist David Elkind. The personal fable is "the adolescent's belief that he or she is highly special and unlike anyone else who has ever walked the earth" (Fraser-Thill). It is a normal part of cognitive development. The personal fable is what causes a teen to feel invincible, resulting in risk taking such as unprotected sex, drugs, or alcohol.
Personal fable is another term closely related with egocentricsim in adolescents. It was first defined by Jewish-American child-psychologist David Elkind. The personal fable is "the adolescent's belief that he or she is highly special and unlike anyone else who has ever walked the earth" (Fraser-Thill). It is a normal part of cognitive development. The personal fable is what causes a teen to feel invincible, resulting in risk taking such as unprotected sex, drugs, or alcohol.
Top 10 Things Parents Should Know while Raising Teenagers