Class Sharing!

Before we proceed with our lesson,

kindly watch the video below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jlYJrcDrnY

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 What about you?
Would you not steal Would you steal the
the drug? Why? drug? Why?

Consequence: Your Consequence: You

wife dies. go to prison.

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 2
LESSON

Lawrence Kohlberg’s
STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT

GE - Ethics

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 OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to:

Discuss briefly the Explain Kohlberg's Analyze a case using

biography of Lawrence Stages of Moral Kohlberg’s Stages of
Kohlberg Development Moral Development

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 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG

1927 October 25;

Bronxville, New York, USA

1958 Ph.D. in Psychology;

University of Chicago

1959 Assistant Professor;

Yale University

1962 Assistant Professor;

University of Chicago

Reference: https://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/lawrence-kohlberg.html
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 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG

1968-1987 Social Psychology professor;

Harvard University

• Doctoral Dissertation: research on the moral choices of

young boys → moral development of young people.

Reference: https://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/lawrence-kohlberg.html
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 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG

1987 Took his own life;

Long battle with depression & illness

• Intellectual Contribution: Theory of Moral Development

Reference: https://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/lawrence-kohlberg.html
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 THEORY OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT
• Influenced by Jean Piget (Swiss
psychologist)

• “Claimed that as an individual

grows and develops cognitively or
mentally in stages, his moral
standards, views, values ,choices
and decisions also change and
grow in stages.”

• “In other words, the mental development of a person

grows side by side or simultaneously with his/her moral,
standards views, values, choices, and decisions”.

Reference: https://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/lawrence-kohlberg.html
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• In teaching young boys (ages 10-16 years old), Kohlberg
often used moral dilemma stories in teaching them about
conflicting moral views and values.

Here’s an example of Kohlberg’s famous

moral dilemma story entitled:

HEINZ DILEMMA
You’ve already viewed this one in the forum.

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 • What Kohlberg discovered was that boys with the same
‘cognitive development stages’ have similar/the same morals
views; likewise, boys with different ages/’cognitive
development’ have different moral views/responses.

Reference: https://www.courses.lumenlearning.com

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THE STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT

First level: Preconventional Morality (ages 1-6)

Stage one: Obedience and Punishment

• The child follows or behaves or cooperates because of

the fear or dread of punishment (avoiding punishment).
• Little to none independent moral reasoning

Stage two: Individualism and Exchange

• The child follows or behaves or cooperates because

there are incentives/rewards/satisfaction/benefit.
• Little to none knowledge of right and wrong

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THE STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT

Second level: Conventional Morality (ages 7-11)

Stage three: Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships

• The child follows/behaves because they want approval

and acceptance (society)
• Avoids disapproval; conscious of other people’s views
judgements about their ‘self-image’

Stage four: Law and Order

• The child follows or behaves because the law says so.

• Breaking the law is wrong because the law is designed to
protect people
• Maintain order and uphold cultural norms; avoid doing
something against the law, society, religion, culture, etc.

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THE STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT

Third level: Post Conventional Morality (ages 11 and above)

Stage three: Social Contract

• Adults give more respect on the rights/freedom of others

• Don’t simply look into self good/benefit but also look into
the good/benefit of others (welfare); avoid doing evil so as
not to violate the freedom of others.

Stage four: Universal Principles

• Adults believe in a democratic process but also

encourages disobedience on unjust laws.
• Uphold principles of justice, ethics, and fairness (universal
principle).
• Doing good because it is universally accepted.

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 LESSON
2
REFERENCES:
Good Therapy (n.d.) Lawrence Kohlberg. Retrieved on June 13, 2020 from Good
Therapy: https://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/lawrence-kohlberg.html
Lumen Learning (n.d.) Theory of Moral Development. Retrieved on June 13, 2020 from
Lumen Learning: https://www.courses.lumenlearning.com

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