MORAL DEVELOPMENT (LAWRENCE KOHLBERG)

Morality refers to a set of principles which enables individuals to differentiate between right or
wrong. Moral development therefore refers to the process by which children learn the principles
that enable them to judge behaviour in a particular society as good or bad and direct their own
behavior in accordance with these principles.

The greatest contribution towards understanding children’s moral development was made by
Lawrence Kohlberg. Using the cognitive development as a basis. Kohlberg stressed that moral
development is based primarily on moral reasoning and unfolds in stages. Moral stages emerge from
a child’s active thinking about moral issues and decisions.

He arrived at his view after interviewing children by presenting series of stories in which characters
face moral dilemmas. On the basis of solutions presented to dilemmas he distinguished three levels
of moral development further dividing each of these levels into two stages.

LEVELS OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT

Level one: Preconventional (about 4 to 10 years)

During these years children respond mainly to cultural control to avoid punishment and attain
satisfaction.

There are two stages;

At stage one (Heteronomous morality- punishment and obedience orientation), children find it very
difficult to view a moral dilemma from different angles; they evaluate behaviour only on the basis of
its consequences. The person’s motives are not considered.

Children are obedient for the sake of obedience and behave correctly in order to avoid punishment,
but will not consider behaviour as incorrect if it is not discovered and punished.

At stage two (Individualistic morality – instrumental goals and interchange), children begin to
develop the awareness that different people have different viewpoints about a moral dilemma.
They now feel it is correct to obey rules if they are in someone’s immediate interest. It is thus right
to act out of self-interest and to one’s own advantage. The principle of scratch my back and I’ll
scratch yours is very prominent during this stage. Obedience is aimed primarily at obtaining some
reward and gratifying personal needs.

Level two: Conventional (about 10 to 13 years)

During this stage children desire approval, from both individuals and society. They not only confirm
but actively support society’s standards. The individual is loyal to the social order, supports and
justifies it actively. The individual regards the upholding of the established norms as his or her moral
duty to ensure positive human relationships and an orderly society.

There are two stages;

At stage three (Morality of interpersonal expectations, relationships and conformity –‘good boy/girl’
orientation), good behaviour is seen by persons in this developmental stage as behaviour that other
people approve of. They attempt to maintain the affection of friends, family and significant others by
being a ‘good person.

At stage four (Morality of social systems and conscience – ‘law and order’ orientation), correct
behaviour is associated with doing ones duty, respect for authority and with the upholding of
existing social law and order. An act is wrong (i.e. immoral) if it violates society’s laws or rules, or if it
harms someone.

Level three: Post conventional level (about 13 years and over)

This is the highest level of moral development. It is also referred to as the morality of self-accepted
or autonomous moral principles. Few people reach this level of moral development.

The individual now defines and internalizes moral values and principles independent from the
groups or people who uphold these principles. The individual does not appeal to other people for
moral decisions; these decisions are made by an ‘enlightened conscience’.

There are two stages;

At stage five (Morality of social contract, usefulness and individual rights), moral or immoral
behaviour is defined in terms of laws or established rules relating to general rights and standards.
Apart from conforming to general standards, the individual’s personal values and beliefs also serve
as guidelines in determining what is correct or incorrect. Thus rules could be changed if the change is
rationally, and socially justified, and if the individual and society have agreed to change.

At stage six (Morality of universal ethical principles), individuals judge behaviours not only as the
basis of society’s existing norms, but also on the basis of their own conscience or own internalized
abstract ethical principles. People at this level act according to their own principles, no matter how
other people may react to them. If they do not act according to their own ethical principles, they
experience guilt and condemn their own behaviour.