Analyzing Motives. A Unit Based on Kohlberg s Six Levels of Moral Development. by Sue Hayford

Transcription

1 Analyzing Motives A Unit Based on Kohlberg s Six Levels of Moral Development by Sue Hayford Grade Levels: 5-8 Content Areas: Bible, Literature, Social Studies Description: Using a modified version of Kohlberg s Six Levels of Moral Development, this unit gives students vocabulary for discussing motives. It also teaches them to evaluate and analyze motives. Although this unit is intended for presentation during Bible class, the concepts presented are also useful in discussions dealing with the actions and motives of literary characters or historical figures. The unit also gives students means and vocabulary for evaluating their own motives and actions. Process: This unit can be taught in six 30-minute class periods. During each period, introduce the level to be discussed. Present some examples of how this level of thinking might show itself in classroom behavior and solicit other examples from students. Present the Bible example for the level, either by telling the story, reading it together, or by letting students act it out. Spiritual applications are listed at the end of each lesson. The lessons learned in this unit can be incorporated into class discussion at any point. Materials Needed: Bibles for each student Sue Hayford,

2 Level 1: I don t want to get in trouble Ask students, Is there anything you would do differently if you knew you wouldn t get in trouble? Discuss answers Point out that whenever we do something just to avoid getting in trouble, we are using Level 1 thinking. Examples: Kids behave appropriately when the teacher is in the room, but misbehave when she steps out. A student copies someone else s answers when he thinks no one is watching. After sharing an example or two, solicit other examples from students. Tell, or have students act out, the story of the Ten Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) The third servant, who got one talent, illustrates Level 1 thinking. He hid the talent so he wouldn t get in trouble for losing it. Notice the third servant s excuse for not investing... I knew you were a harsh man... I was afraid. Level 1 thinking is based on fear. Level 1 thinking is an appropriate developmental level for babies and young children; however, some people get stuck at that level. This can cause problems in the following ways: 1. Level 1 thinking is self-centered. The focus is on me: How will my actions affect me? 2. Level 1 thinking is based on fear. This is the way Satan wants us to see God as Someone to be feared. In contrast, Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. (1 John 4:18,19 NLT) 3. Level 1 thinking can actually lead us to do wrong in some situations. One example: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. If they had been focused on staying out of trouble (Level 1 thinking), they would have bowed to the image. 4. Level 1 thinkers need to have someone watching them all the time. If no one is watching, they won t get into trouble no matter what they do, so, as far as they are concerned, it doesn t matter if what they are doing is wrong. Sue Hayford,

3 Level 2: I want a reward Ask students what their number one worst chore at home is. Would they be willing to do that chore without grumbling for $10? For $100? What other rewards would they work for? (Note: Rewards can be intangible, too like political power or popularity) Discuss different kinds of rewards and the kinds of things we do to get them. Possible examples: Students do something so they will get extra recess. Students quickly cram for a memory verse quiz five minutes before the quiz. They may get an A, but will forget the verse a few minutes later. It was the A that was important to them not learning the Bible text. Ask students to come up with other examples. Tell, read together, or act out this story: Balaam (Numbers 22-24) Balaam was motivated by the rewards offered by Balak, not by wanting to do what was right. He blessed Israel only because God didn t give him a choice. He later showed his Level 2 thinking when he took a different scheme which worked to Balak (Numbers 25-31) 1. Keeping people at this level is a powerful tool for Satan as illustrated in Balaam s story. 2. It was Level 2 thinking that caused the disciples to argue over who would be greatest in the Kingdom and led to Jesus comment And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? (Matthew 16:26) 3. Level 2 thinking is self-centered a what s-in-it-for-me attitude. 4. Level 2 thinking requires someone else to be present to reward you. It does not lead to integrity doing right whether or not anyone is watching. 5. People stuck at Level 2 may get frustrated and give up if they have to wait for a reward (like heaven). Sue Hayford,

4 Level 3: I want to please or impress someone Briefly review Levels 1 and 2; then introduce Level 3. Discuss with students why wanting to please or impress someone would be considered a higher level than trying to stay out of trouble or to get a reward. (At least you are trying to please someone else. Someone else s opinion is being considered.) Examples: Doing something to impress parents or a teacher Peer pressure fits here! (My students decided this one deserved its own level, so we have Level 3 ½ I follow the crowd.) Ask students to come up with more examples. Tell, read together, or act out the story of the Widow with 2 coins (Luke 21:1-4) or the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14) In both cases, contrast the rich people and/or Pharisee (Level 3 thinkers) with the poor widow or the tax collector, who showed true humility (Level 6 thinking, although we haven t gotten there yet). 1. Although another person s opinions are now being taken into consideration, Level 3 thinking is still basically self-centered. It is the other person s opinion of me that is important. 2. Level 3 thinking still requires someone else to be present in this case, the person you want to impress. 3. Level 3 thinking can lead to wrong-doing if the person you want to impress leads in that direction. (i.e. Making fun of someone to impress others with your wit) 4. Level 3 thinking directs attention to yourself. Our job as God s followers is to direct attention to God, not to ourselves. 5. Level 3 thinking puts a person (the one you want to impress) ahead of God in your thinking. That s why Jesus told the Pharisees, No wonder you can t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God. (John 5: 44 NLT) Sue Hayford,

5 Level 4: I follow the rules Try playing a quick game such as 7-Up, but have a few students ignore the rules. Afterward, ask, Was the game as much fun when some people ignored the rules? Why do we have rules? Ask students to imagine what school would be like if everyone always followed the rules. Can you think of any times when it would be wise to not follow the rules? (One example might be breaking rules about not interrupting the teacher if there is an emergency.) Tell, read together, or act out the story of Jesus disciples picking grain on the Sabbath. Talk about the Pharisees response. (Matthew 12:1-8) The Pharisees are a good example of people who never got past Level 4. They had many rules that were supposed to help them please God, but the rules became more important to them than God. In many ways, this is a good level to reach. 1. The focus is no longer on self. A Level 4 person is focused on the rules. 2. A Level 4 person does not need to be watched in order to do what is right. He will follow the rules whether anyone is watching or not. In other ways, Level 4 still leaves something to be desired. 1. There are times when man s rules and God s law do not agree. This means there are times when man s rules need to be broken. (The Holocaust and Civil Rights Movement provide good examples.) 2. It is good to follow the rules, but this should stem from higher motives. Following rules for rules sake can lead to trouble. (i.e. We should follow God s laws because we love God, not just because rules are rules. ) 3. Satan can use this level to distract people today from truly knowing God, just as he did the Pharisees long ago. Some people today believe that obeying God s law is all they have to do. They never get to know God or have a relationship with Him. Sue Hayford,

6 Level 5: I am considerate of other people Ask students: Have you ever heard the saying, Don t judge someone until you ve walked a mile in his shoes? What does it mean to walk a mile in someone s shoes? Define empathy and discuss how a person with empathy would act. Example: Students encourage each other without putting others down Ask students to think of other examples. Tell, read together, or act out the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) Discuss who showed empathy in this story and how he showed it. Also ask students to try to identify what level thinking the priest and Levite might have been using when they walked away. 1. Jesus summarized empathy when He gave what we call the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) and said that This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets. (NLT) 2. In many places, Jesus told his disciples that others would be able to identify them as His followers by the love they showed. You might want to do a concordance search on this topic with your students. 3. Level 5 thinkers focus on others not to impress them, but because they care about them. One drawback: It is possible to reach this level on your own. People who don t know or believe in God can reach this level. That means there is still one level higher! Sue Hayford,

7 Level 6 I do what is right because that s the kind of person I am Ask students, Have you ever seen the letters WWJD on anything? What do they stand for? (What Would Jesus Do) Tell students to think about that question as we discuss this level. Ask for student responses: What if Jesus were a student here? What would He be like? How would He act? Point out that Level 6 people will act like that, too. Tell, read together, or act out the story of Jesus forgiving the men who killed Him. (Luke 23:32-43) If you have time, also add the story of Peter denying Jesus and Jesus later reinstating him. (John 18:25-27; 21:15-25) Ask students if they would find it easy to forgive like that. Point out that this is not something we can do on our own. Only the Holy Spirit living in us can give us that kind of love. 1. Level 6 thinkers do not focus on themselves or even on others. Their focus is on honoring God. 2. Even secular psychologists who study moral development say that it is rare to find people at this level. 3. This level can truly be reached only through the Holy Spirit s power working in us. 4. God has promised to write His law on our hearts. See Jeremiah 31:33 and Ezekiel 36:27. Discuss what this means. 5. This level, having God s character reproduced in us, is a goal to be reached. Remind students that the fact that they may be growing through other levels right now does not mean they don t belong to God. It just means that God isn t finished with them yet! Sue Hayford,