Moral Development Theory

BY: ANGELA MARTIN & DANIELLE COOK

Theorist

 Lawrence Kohlberg (Oct. 25, 1927-Jan. 19, 1987)

 20th century psychologist
 Attended the University of Chicago
 Bachelor’s degree in one year (1948)
 PhD is psychology (1958)
 Dissertation
Lawrence Kohlberg’s Career

 1959 Yale University

 Assistant professor of psychology
 1962 The University of Chicago
 Associate professor & director of Child Psychology Training Program
 1968-1987 Harvard University
 Professor of education and social psychology
Moral Development Theory

 I. Pre-Conventional Level
 Stage1: The punishment and obedience orientation
 Stage 2: The instrumental relativist orientation
 II. Conventional Level
 Stage 3: The interpersonal concordance orientation
 Stage 4: The “law and order” orientation
 III. Post- Conventional
 Stage 5: The social-contract legalistic orientation
 Stage 6: The universal ethical-principle orientation
Pre- Conventional Level

 Characterized by the desire to avoid punishment or gain reward

 Reasoning is based on the physical consequence of actions
 Children 10 years and younger

 Stage 1: The punishment and obedience orientation

 Punishment
 Good vs. Bad

 Stage 2: Stage 2: The instrumental relativist orientation

 No one right view
 “Right” is a fair exchange
 Guided by what is “fair”