Chapter 2. Heinz's Story and Moral Development

Synopsis

Human Development Video Activity

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HEINZ'S STORY AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT

Estimated Completion Time:

Approximately 5 minutes.

Synopsis:

This video segment depicts several children responding to the philosophical Heinz dilemma, which informed Lawrence Kohlberg's research on moral development.

Video

In his initial research on moral development, Lawrence Kohlberg told children the now-famous story of Heinz, whose wife is dying of cancer. Heinz goes to a local druggist, who has developed a cure for the cancer, but is turned away because he can’t afford the exorbitant price the druggist is charging. The question Kohlberg asked of children was if Heinz should steal the drug for his wife. The following clips, in which children respond to the Heinz story, give a flavor of the kind of responses Kohlberg encountered.

Essay Question

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Question 2.1

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Kohlberg cited growth of cognitive skills, including those in perspective taking, as the major influence on moral reasoning. Other researchers have also pointed to gender, family, and cultural factors as possible influences.

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