Lawrence Kohlberg

Lawrence Kohlberg's Moral Stages

Lawrence Kolhberg

Born: October 25,1927

Occupation: Psychologist

• Was inspired by the work of Jean Piaget who was a Swiss developmental psychologist and philosopher known for his studies with children.
• Known for his Moral Development Theory.
• Theory consisted of 3 levels and each level had 2 stages.
• Must go though each level and each stage in order to develop.
• Different people are likely to reach different levels of moral thinking within their lifespan raising the possibility that some people may never reach more abstract stages in life.

Level One

Level II

Level III

Preconventional Morality

Conventional Morality

Post conventional Morality

• This stage is not reached by many adults.
• Acceptance of social standards and rules.

• Common in children up to the age of 10-13.
• Level of judgment is directly influenced by direct consequences.
• The pre-conventional level includes first and second stages of moral development
• Children have not adapted what is wrong or right based off of society.
• Children use external and physical events to associate morals (pain and pleasure).

• Usually begins in middle school.
• Most people do not pass this level.
• This is the period of acceptance of one's rules and standards.
• Adolescents view moral standards as a way of maintaining the approval of authority figures i.e. parents, community, and principals.

Stage 3

Stage 1.

Stage 5

Obedience and Punishment Orientation

Social Contract and Individual Rights.

Good Interpersonal Relationships

• People believe that they should live up to the expectations of family and community.
• Good motives equals good behavior.
• If bad is done by others and punishment does not occur, individuals perceive this as unfair. "if he can get away with it why can't I".

• Earliest stage of moral development.
• At this point children see rules and punishment.
• Children focus on direct punishment from the actions that are carried out by themselves.
• Children understand that there are effects for good such as praise and punishment for bad behavior.

• At this stage people begin to form different values, opinions and beliefs of other people.
• The rules of law are important for maintaining a society.

Stage 2.

Stage 4

Stage 6

Universal Principles

Maintaining the social order.

Individualism and Exchange

• Individuals lack the imagining of what one would do being in anyone's shoes.
• Stage where people act because it is right and not because it is expected
• Kohlberg insisted that stage six exists but he had difficulty finding individuals who make it to this stage.

• This stage individuals are concerned more with society as a whole.
• Abiding by rules or obeying the law is now a major role.

• Also called the self-driven stage.
• Individuals are aware of their interests or "what's in it for me".