Kohlberg’s 6 Stages of Moral

Development
 To confirm his theory, Kohlberg interviewed boys
between the ages of 10 and 16. He then analyzed
how they would justify their decision when
confronted with different hypothetical moral
dilemmas.
Superimposing the participants’ argumentation
onto their cognitive development, Kohlberg
postulated, that humans progress through the
stages in a hierarchical order, as their cognitive
abilities develop.
Kohlberg’s stages of moral development:

❏ Theory inspired by Jean Piaget

❏ Method - moral dilemmas (Heinz) to investigate children’s
reasoning.
❏ Six stages - concerned with justice.
❏ Not what should be done but reasoning used to justify the
response.
The Heinz dilemma:
A woman was near death from a special kind of cancer. There was one drug that the
doctors thought might save her. It was a form of radium that a druggist in the same
town had recently discovered. The drug was expensive to make, but the druggist
was charging ten times what the drug cost him to produce. He paid $200 for the
radium and charged $2,000 for a small dose of the drug. The sick woman's husband,
Heinz, went to everyone he knew to borrow the money, but he could only get
together about $1,000 which is half of what it cost. He told the druggist that his wife
was dying and asked him to sell it cheaper or let him pay later. But the druggist said:
"No, I discovered the drug and I'm going to make money from it." So Heinz got
desperate and broke into the man's store to steal the drug for his wife.
Should Heinz have broken into the store to steal the drug for his wife? Why or
why not?
Level 1: Pre-conventional

Stage one (obedience and punishment):

Heinz should not steal the drug. He will be put in prison.

Stage two (reward & self-interest):

Heinz should steal the drug he will be much happier if he

saves his wife.
Level 2: Conventional
Stage three (interpersonal accord and conformity):
Heinz should steal the drug. His wife expects it;
He wants to be a good husband.

Stage four (authority and maintaining social order):

Heinz should steal the drug. He should take the punishment for the
crime & pay the druggist. Actions have their consequences.
Level 3: Post-conventional

Stage five (social contract):

Heinz should steal the drug. Everyone has a right to choose life,
regardless of the law.

Stage six (universal human ethics):

Heinz should steal the drug. Saving a human life is a more
fundamental value than the property rights of another person.
 Stages of Moral Reasoning

Level Stages Orientation

Pre conventional Stage 1: Obedience and Deciding what is right or wrong

Punishment is based on what action is
punished. The child obeys to
avoid punishment.

Stage 2: Reward and Deciding what is right or wrong

Self-interest is based on what is rewarded.
Conventional Stage 3: Interpersonal Accord Deciding what is right or
and Conformity wrong is based on what others
approve or disapprove of.

Stage 4: Authority b=and Deciding what is right or

Maintaining Social Order wrong is based on the rules
that should be followed

Post conventional Stage 5: Social Contract Deciding what is right or

wrong is based on laws;
however, one recognizes that
they can change. An individual
acts based on what will be
good for the majority.

Stage 6: Universal Ethical Deciding what is right or

Principles wrong is based on universal
principles. One looks into one’s
conscience, pursues justice
and seeks equality at all costs.
“ Morality is the ability to see an issue from
points of view of others than just your own.”
-Lawrence Kholberg