THE STAGES OF

MORAL
DEVELOPMENT
Presented By : Asor, Ma. Kristina
Cassandra O. Asor & Ronalyn Arroyo
 LAWRENCE KOHLBERG
(October 25, 1927- January 19, 1987)

An American psychologist known for his

theory on Moral Psychology and
development.

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 LEVELS AND STAGES OF
MORAL REASONING
Kohlberg presented moral dilemmas to individuals in his study and
asked their responses. He analyzed their moral reasoning behind
their responses.

He was also able to determine that not all people achieve all the
stages of moral reasoning.

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 LEVEL 1- PRECONVENTIONAL MORALITY

-It refers to judgments made before a person

understands the conventions of society. Moral
reason is based on the consequences and results
of the act, not on whether the act good or bad.
1 STAGE 1: PUNISHMENT/ OBEDIENCE
- A person is motivated by fear of punishment. He/ she
behaves or act in order to avoid punishment.
2
STAGE 2: MUTUAL BENEFIT
- A person is motivated to act by the benefit that one
may get later. He/ she will do good to another person
 LEVEL 11- CONVENTIONAL MORALITY

-It refers to judgments based on the rules or

convention of society. Moral reasoning based on
the desire to impress others.
 STAGE 3: SOCIAL APPROVAL
3
-This is called the “good boy, nice girl orientation”.
A person acts because he/she will appear to others.
By being good or nice there will be likely approval from
others .

STAGE 4: LAW AND ORDER

4
- A person is motivated to act in order to uphold law and
order. He/ she follows the laws without questioning
them.
 LEVEL 111- POST CONVENTIONAL MORALITY

-It refers to judgments based on the recognition

that the society needs mutual agreement and
application of consistent principles in making
judgements.
 STAGE 5: SOCIAL CONTRACT
5
-Laws are open to evaluation because laws should not be
obeyed simply because they are laws.

6 STAGE 6: Universal Principles

- This is associated with the development of person’s
consistence. A person has his/her own set of standards
that motivates him/her to decide regardless of personal
consequences.
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