Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

• Lawrence Kohlberg sought to refine and extend the ideas of Piaget

and the pioneering work of James M. Baldwin (1894) by creating a
comprehensive three-stage theory.
• Kohlberg studied moral development by posing moral dilemmas to
groups of children as well as adolescents and adults. These dilemmas
take the form of stories, one of Kohlberg’s best known dilemmas
involves a man named
• In Europe, 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 make.
He paid $200 for the radium and charged $2000 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 $1000, which was 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 considered breaking into the man’s store to
steal the drug for his wife. Should Heinz steal the radium?
Level 1
Pre Conventional

.Obedience and punishment orentation ( 2-4 years)

If child get punishment on his actin – according to child that act is
wrong
If child get reward – that act is right
So according to (2-4 year) child Heinz was wrong
.Individualism and exchange ( 4-7 years)
According to child if we feel good by doing something that act is right
And child think –if you for me than I will do for you
So according to (4-7 year) child –Heniz was right

Level 2 Conventional stage

.Good-boy-nice-girl orientation( 8-10 year)

If child relation is greeting better by doing according to friend ,family we consider
wrong as right . Heinz was right or wrong depend on his family / friend view.
.Maintaing social order (10-13 year)
Give importance to rule and regulation .he will follow law of society even his
relationship is getting bad .
According to 10-13 year child Heinz was wrong .

Level 3 Post Conventional stage

.Social contract and Individual Right (13-18 year)
A person prefer his own thinking in this age and forget rule and laws .
He think everyone have Right to speech, Right to freedom
According to child Heinz was right
.Universal principle (above 18)
Principle of Gandhiji – Truth and non- violence
Life is more important than laws .
Heinz was right or wrong depend upon child principle
According to kohlberg's
Children approches thinking about right and wrong different at different age
Not everyone achieve all level
Nobody can jump 1to 3 stage they have to pass step by step
It is same across culture