Introduction to Psychology Season 1 Episode 16 Moral Development and Situational Ethics

Introduction to Psychology season 1 episode 16 is titled Moral Development and Situational Ethics. This episode explores the theories of moral development and how situational ethics can impact one's moral decision-making.

The episode begins with a case study of a man named John who is faced with a moral dilemma at work. John's boss asks him to cover up a mistake that could result in harm to customers. John must decide whether to lie and potentially harm others or tell the truth and risk his job.

The episode then delves into theories of moral development, including Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development. Kohlberg believed that individuals progress through stages of moral reasoning as they mature, with the highest level of moral reasoning being based on universal ethical principles.

The show also addresses the critique of Kohlberg's theory, with some arguing that it is too focused on individual reasoning and lacks consideration of the social and cultural factors that can impact moral decision-making.

The second half of the episode explores situational ethics, which posits that moral decisions can vary based on the situation. The show gives examples of how situational ethics have been used throughout history, such as in the case of Nazi Germany and the infamous Milgram experiment.

The episode also explores the concept of moral disengagement, where individuals can justify immoral actions to themselves by distancing themselves from responsibility or blaming others.

Overall, the episode seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of moral development and situational ethics in order to better understand the complexity of human moral decision-making. It highlights the importance of considering both individual and societal factors when analyzing moral behavior.