A Study on the

Application of
Kohlberg’s Theory of
Moral Development
to Engineering
Profession Situations

Presented By:

Baldillo, George Arman

Fernandez, John Edward

Villanueva, Angelica Joy

Kohlberg defined three levels of moral development:
preconventional, conventional, and
postconventional. Each level has two distinct stages

– Social issues are being dealt with making moral judgments

– Lawrence Kohlberg, an American psychologist provided a provoking theory of
moral development. According to him, “Moral development consists of a
sequence of qualitative changes in the way an individual thinks.” (Miranda,
2008) Queries arise, however, despite the provision of the stated adage.
– These actually urged Kohlberg to be more inclined into studying morality, or to
be more specific, in moral judgment or reasoning. 1
PRE-CONVENTIONAL LEVEL
(No Internalization)
– This is the lowest level in Kohlberg’s theory of moral reasoning where the
consequences determine morality, behaviour that is rewarded is right; that
which is punished is wrong
– Stage 1 (Morality of Punishment and Obedience) – At this stage, the morality is
tied with punishment
– e.g Given a situation that a professional is working in a company where he is the
Head Software Engineer. He should always exert effort to his work for him to be
able to maintain his position. If he will not do so, the company will possibly
terminate him out of that position and put him in a lower position.
– Stage 2 (Morality of Naive Instrumental Hedonism) – At this stage, morally right
behavior depends on the subject’s needs and desires. TStage 2 (Morality of
Naive Instrumental Hedonism) – At this stage, morally right behavior depends
on the subject’s needs and desires.
– 2. Executive Officer of the IECEP Manila conducts seminars for exhibiting
technology and other trend related to the ECE Profession. These seminars will
somehow be a fund-raising of the organization to support their other projects
for the professionals. Meanwhile, any professional who attend a specific
seminar will be given what they called CPE Points that they can use for the
renewal of their license.
CONVENTIONAL LEVEL
(Internalization)
– l." Conformity to social norms is right; nonconformity is wrong. People are
concerned about being “good”, pleasing others and maintaining the social order
– e.g: If a person address himself as an engineer even without passing a licensure
exam. It is not allowed according to Republic Act No. 5734 (Section 27)
– Stage 4 (Authority and Social Order-Maintaining Morality) – This stage is one
oriented to abiding by the law, understanding social order and responding to
the obligations of duty.
– 2. It is illegal to use a radio frequency that has been owned by another company
in any Radio Control Board. There will be interference in the signal because two
or more channels are using it. This is illegal because the first company paid for
the radio frequency.
POSTCOVENTIONAL LEVEL
(Full Internalization
– An individual has come to comprehend that moral rules include principles that
can be applied across all situations and societies.
– Stage 5 (Morality of Contract, Individual Rights, and Democratically Accepted
Law) – At this stage, an individual recognizes that the societal rules are for
common good, although human rights sometimes outweigh laws.
– 2. In emergency situations, an electronics engineer knows that there is a supply
of electrical energy in telephone wires. Using the energy will not get any
attention from anyone and the engineer will remain undetected unless caught
in action. It is more important to attend to his needs than to think that he is
abusing the telephone company.
– Stage 6 (Morality of Individual Principle of Conscience) - a person delineates
right and wrong on the basis of the person’s moral code that are universal in
application
– SAMPLE RESPONSES TO A LICENSED ENGINEER THAT HAD BEEN ASKED TO SIGN
A PROJECT FROM HIS FRIEND WHO IS A NON-LICENSED ENGINEER AT
KOHLBERG’S THREE LEVEL OF MORAL REASONING
– He studied ECE laws as a part of his school practice; he already knew that
signing an electronic engineering work that is not actually performed by him is
prohibited as what is said in Republic Act No. 9292, Article VI, Section 35. So he
will not sign the project.
Analysis

– The provided situations related to Engineering profession are in connection

with Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development in a sense that the presented
ECE-related moral dilemmas are applications of various levels and stages of
moral reasoning.