KOHLBERG’S

STAGES OF
MORAL
DEVELOPMEN
T
 Lawrence Kohlberg
He was such an interesting, If not intriguing
person. He was born wealthy, but chose to
be sailor an began to be interested in moral
reasoning. He helped smuggle Jews
through a British blockade in Palestine
during World War II
 Lawrence Kohlberg
He is known for his theory of moral
development which which was influenced
by Piaget and Dewey’s theories. He
believed that people progressed in their
ability to reason morally through six stages
with three levels largely by social
interaction.
 Kohlberg identified Six stages of moral
reasoning grouped into three major
levels. Each level represent a significant
change in the social-moral reasoning or
perspective of the person.
 Moral
 Conforming to the standards of
right behaviour
 A. Preconventional Level
 Moral reasoning is based on the cosequence/result of the act, not on
the whether the act itself is good or bad.

Stage 1 Punishment/obedience.
 One is motivated by fear of punishment. He will act in order to avoid
punishment.
Stage 2 Mutual benefit.
 One is motivated to act by the benefit that one may obtain later. You
scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.
 B. Conventional Level
 Moral reasoning is based on the convention or “norms” of society. This may
include approval of others, law and order.

Stage 3 Social Approval.

 One is motivated by what others expect in behavior-good boy, good girl. The
people act because he/she values how he/she will appear to others. He/she gives
importance on what people will think or say.
Stage 4 Law and order.
 One is motivated to act in order to uphold law and order. The person will
follow the law because it is the law.
 C. Post-Conventional
 Moral reasoning is based Level
on enduring or consistent principles. It is not just
recognizing the law, but the principle behind the law.

Stage 5 Social contract.

 Laws that are wrong can be changed. One will act based on social justice and the
common good.

Stage 6 Universal principles.

 This is associated with the development of one’s conscience. Having a set of
standards that drives one to possess moral responsibility to make societal changes
regardless of consequences to oneself.