Which of the following is a major criticism of Kohlberg's theory of moral development?

• A. It was developed based on animal studies rather than human participants.
• B. It places too much emphasis on justice and rationality, neglecting emotions and cultural differences.
• C. It focuses exclusively on the physiological aspects of emotion.
• D. It suggests that emotions are the primary drivers of moral reasoning.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand Kohlberg's theory of moral development, which primarily focuses on how individuals reason about moral dilemmas, emphasizing stages of moral reasoning based on justice and rationality.
2. Step 2: Recognize that Kohlberg's theory was developed through studies involving human participants, particularly using moral dilemmas like the Heinz dilemma, not animal studies.
3. Step 3: Identify that Kohlberg's theory does not focus on physiological aspects of emotion or suggest that emotions are the primary drivers of moral reasoning; instead, it highlights cognitive processes.
4. Step 4: Note the major criticism that Kohlberg's theory places too much emphasis on justice and rationality, often neglecting the role of emotions and cultural differences in moral development.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the correct criticism is that Kohlberg's theory may overlook important emotional and cultural factors that influence how people make moral decisions.