Page 1: Theories of Conscience
This page introduces several key theories about the nature and development of conscience.
Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development
Lawrence Kohlberg proposed that moral reasoning develops through three main stages:
- Pre-conventional: Focus on punishment and obedience
- Conventional: Emphasis on interpersonal relationships and societal rules
- Post-conventional: Recognition of universal ethical principles
Example: The Heinz Dilemma is used to illustrate how individuals at different stages might approach a moral problem.
Freud's Psychoanalytic Theory of Conscience
Sigmund Freud viewed conscience as part of the superego, developing between ages 3-5:
- Id: Unconscious, basic needs
- Ego: Rational self
- Superego: Controlling, restraining self includesconscience
Highlight: Freud saw conscience as an internalization of parental and societal expectations, not a divine voice.
Conscience as Social Conditioning
Emile Durkheim proposed that conscience is a product of social forces:
- God as a projection of society's power
- Collective conscience: shared beliefs and moral attitudes
Definition: Collective conscience refers to the common moral understanding shared by members of a society.