Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development

Stage 6

UNIVERSAL ETHICAL
PRINCIPLES
Stage 5
According to Kohlberg,
Stage 4 SOCIAL CONTRACT this is the highest stage
AUTHORITY AND Individual freedoms of functioning. However,
Stage 3 MAINTAINING SOCIAL shape our actions. he claimed that some
ORDER Individuals consider individuals will never
GOOD BOY/NICE GIRL laws and regulations to reach this level. At this
OREINTATION Behaviour is governed
Stage 2 be adaptable tools for stage, the appropriate
by social rules and laws.
bettering human goals. action is determined by
INSTRUMENTAL Individuals increasingly
There are exceptions to one’s self-
PURPOSE ORIENTATION examine societal laws
Social acceptance regulations in the right chosen ethical principles
from a broader
Consequences once shapes our behavior. situation. When laws of conscience. These
perspective. Moral
again determine Being a "good person" is conflict with individual principles are abstract
decision-making
Stage 1 behavior. The individual the individual's goal in rights and the interests and universal in
expands beyond
is primarily concerned order to keep or gain of the majority, they are application. This type
OBEDIENCE AND consideration of
with obtaining rewards others' affection and ineffective and should of reasoning involves
PUNISHMENT interpersonal
or meeting personal approval. be replaced. taking the perspective
relationships. The
Consequences shape demands. of every person or
individual feels that
behavior. In order to group that could
rules and laws help to
escape punishment, the potentially be affected
keep a stable social
individual will obey. by the decision.
order.