Lawrence Kohlberg

Daisy Sirk

Biography
Born in New York in 1927
Psychologist and college
professor

Focused on moral and

ethical development in
children

Died in 1987

Kohlbergs Stages of
Moral Development
Influenced by Jean Piagets stage-based theory of
development

Believed individuals progress through the stages of

moral development just as they progress through the
stages of cognitive development

https://youtu.be/ALE5H9Byms0

Level 1: Pre-Conventional
Stage 1: Obedience And Punishment Orientation
The individual is good in order to avoid being punished

Stage 2: Individualism And Exchange

The individual focuses on their own self-interests
The individual acknowledges that different people have
different views

Level 2: Conventional
Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships
Good boy and good girl

The individual is good in order to be seen as a good person

by others

Stage 4: Law and Order

The individual becomes aware of the wider rules of society
The individuals judgments obey the rules in order to
uphold the law and avoid guilt

Level 3: Post-Conventional
Stage 5: Social Contract
The individual focuses on doing what is best for society as
a whole and respects individual rights

Stage 6: Universal Principles

The individual has developed their own set of moral
guidelines which may or may not fit the law

Individuals focus on upholding universal principles

Why Is This Important?

Provides understanding of the development of
moral reasoning

Provides a guideline for how children approach

specific situations based on their stage of moral
development

Conflict resolution

How Do We Put It In Practice?

Use to explain to students the correct behaviors
they should practice in a classroom and why it is
important based on their stage

Use to explain the consequences for failing to adhere

to social norms and rules

References
Khan Academy Medicine. "Kohlberg Moral Development."
YouTube. YouTube, 25 Feb. 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2016.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onkd8tChC2A

"Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-1987)." GoodTherapy.org. 06 July 2015.

Web. 28 Mar. 2016. http://www.goodtherapy.org/famouspsychologists/lawrence-kohlberg.html
McLeod, S. A. "Kohlberg." Simply Psychology. N.p., 2013. Web. 28
Mar. 2016. http://www.simplypsychology.org/kohlberg.html