QUESTION:
I am considering modifying the descriptions of the Hierarchy levels, however I’m not sure I understand the difference between Levels C and D. The following is my rough draft–would this be correct?

Level D - Democracy - Shows caring, kindness, respect, responsibility and honesty because of INTERNAL motivation.

Level C - Compliance - Shows caring, kindness, respect, responsibility and honesty because of EXTERNAL motivation.

Level B - Bothering - Bothers others which is neither appropriate nor acceptable.

Level A - Anarchy- Absence of order; aimless; procedures are not followed. Neither appropriate nor acceptable.

RESPONSE:
You DO understand the differences between Level C and D. Just as you mentioned, the main difference between the two is the difference in motivation. An action at Level C and D can look identical. It is only the difference in motivation that identifies one person’s action as being at Level C and another person’s as being at Level D.

Here is an example to clarify this point:

Students at Level C do home assignments–but only after being reminded by a parent. At Level D, students complete home assignments simply because they know that this is something that is expected and that home assignments are their responsibility. They don’t wait to be reminded before starting. Either way, the action is the same; the home assignments are completed–only the motivation is different.

Level C is an acceptable level of operation but it is important for students to understand that it is not the highest level to which a person can aspire. At Level C, the motivation for acting appropriately is external. In other words, the young person does the correct or right thing but is motivated from a desire to please, impress, or avoid the disapproval of an authority figure. At this level, people need something outside of themselves to motivate them to do the right thing.

At Level D, the highest level of social development, the motivation is internal. The student does what he/she knows to be the correct, right, kind, or responsible thing. The person does so out of a genuine desire to do the right thing. The right thing is done–whether or not an adult or anyone else is present.

In short, Level C describes obedience, which is a necessary characteristic for a civil society.

Unfortunately, obedience does not create desire. The DESIRE to do the right thing is the main characteristic of Level D.

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Posted In: Understanding The Hierarchy
posted On: December 30, 2007: 11:49 am: By Kerry Weisner
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