Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development Issue: A student has decided to cheat on a test and believes this was the correct thing to do. How would you justify his/her thinking from each stage?

Stage 2 Cost/Benefit Orientation

the student cheats because he/she thinks it is worth it to feel successful and receive a good grade.

Stage 5 Social Contract Orientation

the student cheats because he/she wants to contribute to the overall average of the class, making them all appear better

Stage 4 Law & Order

the student cheats because the rules in his/her house say above average grades must be maintained at all times

Stage 3 Good child/Bad child orientation

the student cheats so his/her parents think he/she is a good student and the teacher also thinks he/she is a good student.

Stage 1 Pleasure/Pain Orientation

the student cheats to avoid the humiliation of failing and avoids the anger of his/her parents for failing

Stage 6 Ethical Principle

this one is actually difficult in this scenario. He/she cheats because he/she believes grades are the ultimate factor in deciding a students worth and they are to be obtained in any manner possible. Cheating is just a method of arriving at that non-negotiable value