Other theories of socialization; focus on how an individual learns the norms, values, beliefs and developing self-concept via, socialization process. However, Kohlberg’s and Gilligan’s theories of socialization, focus on, how an individual learn the moral values of society.
Kohlberg’s Moral Development Theory
Kohlberg was interested in analyzing; how an individual learns morality and values within a society. Learning values of a given culture or society; is an important part of socialization process. Moral development refers to, how an individual learns, to differentiate between good and bad. How people react towards, different social behaviors. Which behaviors are acceptable or not acceptable by, the members of society? Morality plays an important role; in the smooth functioning of society. It helps to sustain peace and order in a society. Kohlberg discuses, three stages of moral development in his theory, which are as follow, pre-conventional stage, conventional stage and post-conventional stage.
In pre-conventional stage, children do not have the ability to learn and analyze; others perception regarding, what people consider as, good or bad? In early childhood, children can only experience things through their senses. Therefore, children cannot understand the feelings of people; with whom they interact. They don’t have the ability to think and analyze things around them. Because their cognitive abilities are yet in developing phase. When children reach to teen age, they develop the ability to understand the feeling of others.
The conventional stage begins, when child enter in teen age, because teen age children, can learn and analyze; perceptions of others. They can determine, what is considered, good or bad? Which behavior is considered, virtuous or vicious? And they can differentiate between right and wrong.
Final stage of moral development is post-conventional stage, in which a person think about morality, in abstract terms, for instance, like everyone has right of, freedom of speech, liberty and happiness. Furthermore, an individual think about legality and morality independently. Either do not always go together, sometimes an event or thing might be considered as, legal but not moral. For instance, people demonstrating against the government national or international policies. Government have right to formulate policies, it is legal. However, people might consider them immoral (policy may be regarding raise in property tax or interest rate or, it can be regarding declaring war against, another country ).
Gilligan’s Theory of Moral Development and Gender
Carol Gilligan assumed, Kohlberg moral development theory was gender biased; because his research subjects were only boys. She considered Kohlberg theory male centric; which could only explain, moral development of boys. According to her, if research subjects of Kohlberg theory were both male and female; the results would have been different. Therefore, she was interested in; analyzing the difference between moral development of boys and girls. Thus, research subjects of her theory were both boys and girls. Carol Gilligan Moral development and gender theory suggests that, boys and girls do have different perspectives regarding, morality. Girls have care and responsibility perspective; Girls consider people rational, behind the behavior which seems to be immoral. Whereas, boys have justice perspective; boys analyze whether behavior is right or wrong on the basis of, rules and laws.
According to Carol Gilligan, boys and girls are socialized for different environment. Therefore, both genders have different perspectives regarding, morality. Boys are socialized for work environment; that is why, they analyze morality on the basis of rules and laws. Rules help them to function smoothly, in work environment. On the other hand, girls are socialized for home environment, where flexibility allows for harmony in nurturing and care taking.
Written by; Khushdil Khan Kasi