Midterm Topic 1: Stages of Moral Development
A major task beginning in childhood and continuing into adolescence is discerning right from
wrong. Psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-1987) extended upon the foundation that Piaget
built regarding cognitive development. Kohlberg believed that moral development, like
cognitive development, follows a series of stages. To develop this theory, Kohlberg posed moral
dilemmas to people of all ages, and then he analysed their answers to find evidence of their
particular stage of moral development.
Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development:
- Is a comprehensive stage theory of moral development based on Jean Piaget’s theory of
moral judgement for children (1932) and developed by Kohlberg in 1958.
- Cognitive in nature, Kohlberg’s theory focuses on the thinking process that occurs when
one decides whether a behaviour is right or wrong. Thus, the theoretical emphasis is on
how one decides to respond to a moral dilemma, not what one decides or what one
actually does.
- The framework of Kohlberg’s theory consists of six stages arranged sequentially in
successive tiers of complexity. He organized his six stages into three general levels of
moral development (Encyclopaedia Britannica).
Stages of Moral Development:
PRE-CONVENTIONAL LEVEL – on this level, morality is externally controlled. Rules imposed by
authority figures are conformed to avoid punishment / receive rewards. This perspective
involves the idea that what is right, is what one can get away with or what is personally
satisfying.
2 Stages under pre-conventional level:
PUNISHMENT/OBEDIENCE ORIENTATION – behavior is determined by consequences.
The individual will obey to avoid punishment.
INSTRUMENTAL PURPOSE ORIENTATION – is determined again by consequences
focuses on receiving rewards or satisfying personal needs.
CONVENTIONAL LEVEL – conformity to social rules remains important to the individual, but, the
emphasis shifts from self-interest to relationships with other people and social systems.
- The individual strives to support rules that are set forth by others such as parents, peers
and the government in order to win their approval or to maintain social order.
The two stages in this level are:
GOOD BOY/NICE GIRL ORIENTATION – behavior is determined by social approval: the
individual wants to maintain/win the affection and approval of others by being a ‘good
person.’
LAW AND ORDER ORIENTATION – Social rules and laws determine behavior. The
individual now takes into consideration a larger perspective, that of societal laws. Moral
decision making becomes more than consideration of close ties to others. The individual
believes that rules and laws maintain social order that is worth preserving.
POST-CONVENTIONAL/PRINCIPLED LEVEL – the individual moves beyond the perspective of
his/her own society. Morality is defined in terms of abstract principles and values that apply to
all situations and societies.
- The individual attempts to take the perspective of all individuals.
The two stages in this level are:
SOCIAL CONTRACT ORIENTATION – Individual rights determine behavior. One views
laws & rules as flexible tools for improving human purposes. Give the situation, there
are exception to rules.
LAW AND ORDER ORIENTATION – Highest stage of functioning, but, according to
Kohlberg, some will never reach this level yet. The appropriate action is determined by
one’s self-chosen ethical principles of conscience.
- This type of reasoning involves taking the perspective of every person/group that could
potentially be affected by the decision.
Some arguments against Kohlberg’s model:
GENDER – more males than females move past stage 4 of their moral development.
Women seem to be deficient in their moral reasoning abilities.
GENDER AND RACE - Carol Giligan, research assistant of Kohlberg, calls to disagree the
gender inequality argument because Kohlberg’s theory was based only on upper class
white men and boys. She proposed that males and females’ reason differently. Girls and
women focus more on staying connected and the importance of interpersonal
relationships.
Importance of Moral Development:
- It plays an important role in our social interactions. Understanding how and why
individuals make decisions regarding moral dilemmas can be very useful in different
settings.
- This provides a framework in which to investigate and begin to comprehend how moral
reasoning develops within individuals.
