Reference no: EM132967636

Understanding Cognitive Moral Development

Molly has been a local newspaper reporter for over 10 years. She learned that Joe Thompson, a candidate for governor, had been arrested for shoplifting 20 years earlier. She also learned that early in his life, Thompson went through a confused period when he did things he later regretted. The shoplifting was treated as a minor offense and removed from his record. Since then, Thompson has had a distinguished career helping people and leading important community projects. Many people consider him to be the best candidate who will likely go on to other important leadership positions. Molly wonders whether she should have written a story about Joe's earlier troubles that could ruin his chance to win.

a. Can you characterize Molly's thinking in terms of cognitive moral development levels? Which of the following questions represents preconventional, conventional, and principled thinking?

1.Are there any laws against writing the story?

2.Would getting "the scoop" help or hurt my career?

3.If I don't publish the story, wouldn't another reporter write the story anyway?

4. What action would best serve society in the long term?

5.How would my boss react if I wrote, or didn't write, the story?

6.Aren't reporters expected to report all the news regardless of the circumstances?

7.Would Thompson pay me not to write the story?

8.Would the election process be more just with or without reporting the story?