This unit discusses Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development and the Heinz Dilemma
scenario. These help to classify an individual’s stage of moral development.
Instructions:
How would you respond if faced with this dilemma? Based on your response to the
Heinz Dilemma, available below, what stage of moral development would Kohlberg say
you are in? Why? How might your response to this dilemma have changed if you were
in a different stage of moral development?
The Heinz Dilemma
A woman was on her deathbed. There was one drug that the doctors thought might
save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same town had recently
discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist was charging ten times
what the drug cost him to produce. He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2,000 for
a small dose of the drug. The sick woman’s husband, Heinz, went to everyone he knew
to borrow the money, but he could only get together about $1,000 which is half of what it
cost. He told the druggist that his wife was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let
him pay later. But the druggist said: “No, I discovered the drug and I’m going to make
money from it.” So Heinz got desperate and broke into the man’s laboratory to steal the
drug for his wife. Should Heinz have broken into the laboratory to steal the drug for his
wife? Why or why not?
In addition, describe at least one criticism of Kohlberg’s theory of moral development.
Explain whether or not you agree with this criticism. Explain why or why not.
Requirements:
• By the Friday deadline, share your work with the class in this Unit 6 Assignment
Forum.
PSY201 – Child Development
Assignment Forum: Moral Development and the Heinz Dilemma
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• By the Sunday deadline, review your classmates’ work and provide at least one
