01

KOHLBERG’S 02

STAGES OF 03

MORAL 04

DEVELOPMENT 05
Prepared by:
Trixie Mae Issobelle M. Remoroza, LPT 06
 01
Lawrence Kohlberg, an American psychologist, was among the
pioneers of moral development research. Building on from the original 02
propositions of Jean Piaget, Kohlberg theorised that humans
develop their moral judgements in 6 stages. To confirm his theory, 03
Kohlberg interviewed boys between the ages of 10 and 16. He then
analyzed how they would justify their decision when confronted 04
with different hypothetical moral dilemmas. Superimposing the
05
participants’ argumentation onto their cognitive development,
Kohlberg postulated, that humans progress through the stages in 06
a hierarchical order, as their cognitive abilities develop. 
 STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT
01
LEVEL 1: PREMORAL OR PRECONVENTIONAL STAGES:
02
Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment
03
Stage 2 : Individualism and Exchange
04
LEVEL 2: CONVENTIONAL STAGE:
05
Stage 3: Interpersonal
06
Stage 4 : Law and Order
LEVEL : POSTCONVENTIONAL STAGE:
Stage 5: Prior Rights and Social Contracts
Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles
LEVEL 1: PREMORAL OR PRECONVENTIONAL STAGES:
FOCUS: Self (Egocentric Manner) 01

AGES: Up to 10-13 years

02

03
• individuals obey because authority figures tell them
04
to obey.
05

• fear of being punished for bad, reward for good 06

actions
 Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment:
01
Might Makes Right
02
How can I avoid punishment?
03

04
• Avoidance of physical punishment and deference to power.
• You behave in a way that avoids punishment. 05
• Children obey because adults tell them to obey. People base their
06
moral decisions on the fear of punishment.
EXAMPLE: 01
1. A child's classmate tries to dare the child to skip school. The child would
apply obedience and punishment driven morality by refusing to skip school 02
because he would get punished.
03

2. I won’t cheat because I will get caught.

04

3. I won’t speed because I will get a ticket. 05

4. The atrocities carried out by soldiers during the holocaust who were 06
simply "carrying out orders" under threat of punishment, illustrate that
adults as well as children may function at stage one level.
 Stage 2 : Individualism and Exchange:
01
The Egoist
02

03
What's in it for me?
04

• Moral thinking is based on rewards and self-interest. 05

• What is right is what feels good and what is rewarding. 06
EXAMPLE: 01

02
1. I will cheat because I will get a better score on the
exam. 03

04
2. I will tell mom you lied because it makes me look
05
better.
06

3. You scratch my back, I'll scratch you

 LEVEL 2: CONVENTIONAL STAGE: 01

02
FOCUS: Significant others, "Tyranny of the They“ (They say)
AGES: Beginning in middle school, up to middle age -most people end up here. 03

04
• comparing them to society's views and expectations.
05
• acceptance of society's conventions
• concerned about the opinions of their peers. 06
 Stage 3: Interpersonal Conformity :
01
Good Boy/Good Girl
02
What must I do to be seen as a good boy/girl
(socially acceptable)? 03

04
• focused on living up to social expectations and roles.
05
• Children often adopt their parent’s moral standards at this stage,
06
seeking to being thought of as a “good girl” or “good boy” in front
of those who are close to you.
EXAMPLE: 01

02

1. I won’t cheat on the test because my 03

parents will be ashamed of me.
04

05
2. I will steal because it will make me look
cool in front of my friends. 06
 Stage 4 : Law and Order:
01
The Good Citizen
02
What if everyone did that?
03

• based on understanding and the social order, law, justice and duty 04
• people begin to consider society as a whole when making
05
judgments.
• focus is on maintaining law and order by following the rules, 06
doing one’s duty and respecting authority.
EXAMPLE: 01

02

1. I won’t go speed because it is against the law. 03

If everyone speeds, then our laws are
04
meaningless.
05

2. You must not shoplift because it is illegal. 06

 LEVEL 3 : POSTCONVENTIONAL STAGE:
01
FOCUS: Justice, Dignity for all life, Common Good
AGES: Few reach this stage, most not prior to middle age 02

03

• Morality is judged in terms of abstract principles and not by 04

existing rules that govern society
05

• Individuals look within themselves for the answers rather than 06

basing moral decisions on external sources of authority.
 Stage 5: Prior Rights and Social Contracts:
01
The Philosopher/King
What is the just thing to do given all the circumstances? 02
What will bring the most good to the largest number of people?
03

• The person understands that values and laws are relative and that 04
standards can vary from one person to another.
05

• person believes that some values, such as freedom, are more 06

important than the law

• people begin to account for the differing values, opinions and

beliefs of other people
EXAMPLE: 01

02
1. You should not steal because you would feel
bad if someone took something from you. 03

04

2. I ran a red light because it was 12 midnight, 05

no one was around, and there was an emergency 06

at home.
 
 Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles:
01
The Prophet/Messiah
What will foster life in its fullest for all living beings? 02
What is justice for all?
03

• based upon universal ethical principles and abstract reasoning. 04

• When faced with a dilemma between law and conscience, a 05

personal, individual conscience is followed.
06

• Stage 6 individuals are rare, often value their principles more than
their own life.
EXAMPLE: 01

02
1.Lying to the Nazis about the Jews in the
basement is all right if it is going to save an 03

innocent life; 04

05

2.We need to provide financial assistance to the 06

poor because they have not resources to assist

themselves.
 01

02

03

Thank you
Do you have any question ?
04

05

06