LAWRENCE KOHLBERG’S

STAGES OF MORAL
DEVELOPMENT

ALKUINO, REAH JAYZEL G.

 THREE LEVELS
01 02
03
PRE- POST-
CONVENTIONAL
CONVENTIONAL CONVENTIONAL
MORALITY
MORALITY MORALITY
01

PRE-CONVENTIONAL
MORALITY
PRE-CONVENTIONAL MORALITY
 Judgement Focused On The Self
 Common On Children
 Child’s Sense Of Morality Is Externally Controlled IN THIS LEVEL
 Authority is outside the individual and reasoning is based on the physical
consequences of actions.
 Moral code is shaped by the standards of adults and the consequences of following
or breaking their rules.
 STAGES

01 02
PUNISHMENT-
REWARD ORIENTATION
OBEDIENCE ORIENTATION
 PUNISHMENT-
OBEDIENCE ORIENTATION

 Called The “Pre Moral” Stage

 Actions Are Determined By Immediate Consequence.
 Focuses On The Child’s Desire To Obey Rules And Avoid Being Punished.
  If A Person Is Punished, They Must Have Done Wrong.
EXAMPLE OF THE MORAL STAGES

There is a fight in the school yard, 2 nineth graders are beating up alex and
those who watch the fight are the different types of moral development.

Teacher
Hannah Lee

Ken

Alex
Ken sees what is happening to his friend and wants to help but he doesn’t because
he is afraid the teacher may punish him if he gets caught fight.

Ken

Alex
 REWARD ORIENTATION
 Based On “What’d In It For Me?” Principle.
 Realizing There Are Room For Negotitian To Meet Their Own Goals And Wants To
Be Satisfied.
 Concern For Others Is Not Based On Loyalty Or Intrinsic Respect, But Rather A
“You Scratch My Back, And I’ll Scratch Yours” Mentality.
Hannah decides to intervene and help ken

She knows that she might get punish but she also knows
that she could become a victim herself someday

If She helps ken now, he might help her in the future

Hannah

Alex
02

CONVENTIONAL
MORALITY
 CONVENTIONAL MORALITY
 Typical of adolescents and adults
 Authority is internalized but not questioned, and reasoning is based on the norms of
the group to which the person belongs.
 To reason in conventional manner (something that is generally accepted)
 Rules and standards are based on one’s group
 Decisions are made on society’s views and expectations.
 “Tyranny of They”
 STAGES

03 04
GOOD BOY/ GOOD GIRL AUTHORITY
ORIENTATION ORIENTATION
 GOOD BOY/ GOOD GIRL
ORIENTATION
 By Living Up To Their Expectation, They Seeks Approval From Other People
 Relates The Approval Of Others To Bee Seen As A Good Person
Understand The Concept:
 LOYALTY
 TRUST
 GRATITUDE
 INTERESTED IN MOTIVES
 INTENTION BEHIND A PARTICULAR ACTION.
Lee sees the fight and wants to intervene but when she realizes that all the others are just watching,
she decides not to get involved

She wants other people to see that she is a good girl who is conforming with the ethics of the
community

Lee
 AUTHORITY
ORIENTATION
 Consider Society As A Whole When Making Decision.

Focus On:
 RULES
 MAINTAING LAW AND ORDER
 ONE’S DUTY
 RESPECTING AUTHORITY
When the teacher sees the group fighting, he immediately steps in and shouts: Stop! fighting at school is
forbidden!

He feels that, above all, it is important to follow the rules, otherwise chaos breaks out

He feels it is his duty to uphold the rules that sustain a functioning society

Teacher
03

POST-CONVENTIONAL
MORALITY
 POST-CONVENTIONAL
MORALITY
 Judgment is based on self-chosen principles, and moral reasoning is based on
individual rights and justice
 Known as “principled level”
 Realization that people are unique and are an independent part of the society.
 Individual’s own perspective is more significant compared to others
 Views laws as guide that is essential to be weighted against personal principles and
belief to uphold one’s human rights.
 STAGES

05 06
SOCIAL CONTARCT ETHICAL-PRINCIPLE
ORIENTATION ORIENTATION
 SOCIAL CONTARCT
ORIENTATION
 An individual becomes aware that while rules & laws might exist for the good of
the greatest number, there are times when they will work against the interest of
particular individuals.
 This is achieved through majority decision and inevitable compromise.
 The individual understands that the world holds several opinions, rights and values.
Zen who watches from afar is not sure how she feels about this

To her, rules make sense only if they serve the right purpose

Obviously, the school rules prohibit fighting. But maybe ken deserves to finally learn his lesson

(Just yesterday, Alex punched a young girl from grade one)

Zen

Young
girl
Alex
 ETHICAL-PRINCIPLE
ORIENTATION
 An individual makes a commitment to uphold universal principles of equal
rights and respect.
 Judgement is based on abstract reasoning such as being able to put oneself in
other people’s short
 People at this stage have developed their own set of moral guidelines which
may or may not fit the law.
 Moral reasoning is based on abstract reasoning using universal ethical
principles.
All those involve now have to face the headmaster

He first explains the school rules and why they exist

He then clarifies that rules are valid only if they are grounded in justice

The commitment to justice carries with it an obligation to disobey unjust rules

The head master’s highest moral principle is compassion

Headmaster
He believes that all people should learn to
understand each other’s view points and
that they don’t’ feel alone with their
feelings.
 
 Life experience based on the stages
Stage 1: Punishment-Obedience Orientation
“I should study for the upcoming exam because my mom will get mad at me if I don’t pass the exam”
Achieved: The said orientation motivated me and passed the exam.

Stage 2: Reward Orientation

“If I will do the house choir my mom will give me some money, so I must do the house choir”
Achieved: It allows me to become more responsible and independent as a person.

Stage 3: Good Boy/Girl Orientation

“In school I always follow the rules and the golden rule implemented to every student”
Achieved: It guided me to become more ethical person and to be fit in the
society.
 Life experience based on the stages
Stage 4: Authority Orientation
“I forgot to wear my facemask when I went to they city, the police officer saw me and issue me a report of
my violation”

Achieved: It warns be to become a well mannered citizen in the city

Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation

The best example of this stage is the Democratic form of government in the Philippines

Achieved: People are free

Stage 6: Ethical-Principle Orientation

Putting oneself in other people’s shoes

Achieved: Able to understand or empathize with their perspective, opinion, or

point of view.
 SUMMARY
LAWRENCE KOHLBERG’S STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT

LEVEL 1: Pre conventional Morality

 Punishment-Obedience Orientation (Stage 1)
 Reward Orientation (Stage 2)
LEVEL 2: Conventional Morality
 Good Boy/Girl Orientation (Stage 3)
 Authority Orientation (Stage 4)
LEVEL 3: Conventional Morality
 Social Contract Orientation (Stage 5)
 Ethical-Principle Orientation (Stage 6)
THANK YOU!
&
GODBLESS!