Kohlberg's stages of moral
development
A Psychological Look at
The Importance of Morality
“Right action tends to be defined in
terms of general individual rights and
standards that have been critically
examined and agreed upon by the
whole society.”
– Lawrence Kohlberg
Jean Piaget Lawrence Kohlberg
• Kohlberg based his theory on the findings
of Piaget – cognitive development
• Our ability to choose right from wrong is
tied with our ability to understand and
reason logically.
The Stages
• In a 1958 dissertation, Kohlberg wrote what are
now known as Kohlberg's stages of moral
development.
• These stages explain the development of moral
reasoning.
• Created while studying psychology at the
University of Chicago, the theory was inspired
by the work of Jean Piaget and a fascination
with children's reactions to moral dilemmas
• Kohlberg’s theory holds
that moral reasoning,
which is the basis for
ethical behavior, has six
identifiable developmental
constructive stages - each
more adequate at
responding to moral
dilemmas than the last
JUSTICE!
• He determined that the process of moral
development was principally concerned
with justice and that its development
continued throughout the life span.
Moral Scenarios
• Kohlberg studied moral reasoning by
presenting subjects with moral dilemmas.
• He would then categorize and classify the
reasoning used in the responses, into one
of six distinct stages, grouped into three
levels: pre-conventional, conventional
and post-conventional. Each level
contains two stages.
Level 1 (Pre-Conventional)
– Child’s level (0-9 years old). (However, some adults act out of this
level.)
– People at this level judge the morality of an action by its direct
consequences.
– solely concerned with the self in an egocentric manner.
– Person has not yet adopted or internalized society's conventions
regarding what is right or wrong, but instead focuses largely on external
consequences that certain actions may bring
Stage 1. Punishment avoidance and Obedience orientation
One is motivated by fear of punishment
How can I avoid punishment?
Stage 2. Exchange of Favors: Self-interest orientation /
Mutual Benefit
What's in it for me? Paying for a benefit
“You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.”
Level 2 (Conventional)
– typical of adolescents and adults (9-20 years old).
– Those who reason in a conventional way judge the morality of actions by
comparing them to society's views and expectations.
– At this level an individual obeys rules and follows society's norms even
when there are no consequences for obedience or disobedience.
– Adherence to rules and conventions is somewhat rigid, however.
– Approval of others, law and order
Stage 3. Good Boy/Good girl: Interpersonal
accord and conformity / Social Aprroval
Social norms
The good boy/good girl attitude
Motivated by what others expect in behavior,
how he/she appears to others, what people
will think or say
Stage 4. Law & Order: Authority and social-order
maintaining orientation
Law and order morality, Uphold law and order
Follow the law because it is the law
Level 3 (Post-Conventional)
– There is a growing realization that individuals are separate entities from
society, and that the individual’s own perspective may take precedence
over society’s view; they may disobey rules inconsistent with their
own principles.
– These people live by their own abstract principles about right and
wrong - principles that typically include such basic human rights as life,
liberty, and justice. Because of this level’s “nature of self before others”,
the behavior of post-conventional individuals, especially those at stage
six, can be confused with that of those at the pre-conventional level.
– Recognizing the principles behind the law
Stage 5. Social contract orientation
*laws that are wrong can be changed
*one will act based on social justice & the
common good
Stage 6. Universal ethical principles
Principled conscience, moral responsibility to
make societal changes regardless of
consequences to oneself (ex. Mother Teresa)
