Background

• The Theory of Moral Development is a very

interesting subjects that stemmed from Jean Piaget’s
Theory of Moral Reasoning.
• Developed by psychologist, Lawrence Kohlberg.
• This theory made us understand that morality starts
from the early childhood and can be affected by
several factors.
 Who is Lawrence Kohlberg?

• Is a well-known theorist of modern psychology.

Born in 1927 to a wealthy family. He lived a modest
life.
• Studied psychology at the University of Chicago in
the late 1940s and 1950s and completed his
dissertation in 1958. His dissertation outlined his
theory of moral development.
 Who is Lawrence Kohlberg?

• He was director of Harvard’s Center for Moral

Education. His special area of interest is the moral
development of children – how they develop a sense
of right, wrong and justice.
• He observed that growing children advance through
definite stages of moral development in a manner
similar to their progression through Piaget’s well-
known stages of cognitive development.
 Stages of moral development
• LEVEL 1: PRE-CONVENTIONAL MORALITY
• Stage 1: Punishment-Avoidance and Obedience
• Stage 2: Instrumental Exchange
• LEVEL 2: CONVENTIONAL MORALITY
• Stage 3: Interpersonal Conformity
• Stage 4: Societal Conformity (Law and Order)
• LEVEL 3: POST-CONVENTIONAL MORALITY
• Stage 5: Prior Rights and Social Contract
• Stage 6: Universal, Ethical Principles
`
• Physical consequences of an act determines
its rightness or wrongness

• Example: “why is lying wrong”

• Child: “because mommy will punish

me…”
• “Might makes right”

• Avoidance of physical punishment and deference to power.

 • Instrumental Exchange:
“THE EGOIST”

• Child learns about his needs and the

needs of other

• The child learns to defer his own

needs
• Marketplace Exchange of Favors or Blows.

• “You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours!”

• Justice is: Do unto others what others do unto you!

 Stage 3: Good Boy/ Good Girl
Level Two: Conventional Stage

• The child learns to live the

expectations of his own
family, groups, peers, etc

• Example: right action means

the role as a good son, good
student, good friend, etc.
• Interpersonal Conformity (Tribal)

• A person acts to gain approval of others. Good

behavior is that which pleases or helps others within
the group. One earns approval by being
conventionally “respectable” and “nice”.
• Law and Order: “The Good Citizen”

• Respect for fixed rules, laws and properly constituted

authorities. Defense of the given social and
institutional order for its own sake. Responsibility
toward the welfare of others in the society.
 Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation
Level 3: Post-Conventional or the
Principles Stage

• The child (adult) learns that there

are varieties of social, political,
and even religious opinions

• We come to agree only through

contract, or social process justified
through reason
• “The Philosopher-King”

• Individual acts out of mutual obligation and a sense

of public good. Right action tends to be defined in
terms of general individual rights, and in terms of
standards that have been critically examined and
agreed upon by the whole society.
 Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles
Level 3: Post-Conventional or the
Principles Stage

• The child (adult) come to

accept universally moral
principles – like love,
justice, compassion,
mercy, unity, dignity, etc.
• “The Prophet/Messiah”

• An individual who reaches this stage acts out of

universal principles based upon the equality and
worth of all living beings. Persons are never means to
an end, but are end in themselves.
 Applications of Kohlberg’s theory

Group Work
• Case 1: Heinz Dilemma

• Case 2: Jose’s Dilemma

 Applications of Kohlberg’s theory

• Identify what stage of moral

development your answers may
be categorized?
THANK YOU!
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