KOHLBERG'S THEORY

OF
MORAL
DEVELOPMENT
 Lawrence Kolhberg was known for his
theory of moral development which was
influenced by Piaget and Dewey's theory.
Like Piaget, he believed that children form
says of thinking through their experiences
which include understanding of moral
concepts such as justice, rights, equality and
human welfare.
 Kohlberg followed the development of moral judgment and
extended the ages covered by Piaget, and found out that the
process of attaining moral maturity took longer and occurred
slower than Piaget had thought.
From his research, Kohlberg identified six stages of moral
reasoning grouped into three major levels. Each level
represents a significant change in the social-moral reasoning
or prospective of the person.
Situation: Ryan, 17, has been saving up money to buy a ticket for
this concert of rock band. His parents have discouraged him from
going as the concert will surely be with a rowdy crowd. This band is
notorious for having out-of-control audience who somehow managed
to get drunk and stoned during the concert. Ryan agreed not to watch
anymore. But a day before the concert, Nic, 15-year-old brother of
Ryan, saw a corner of what appeared to be a concert showing in the
pocket of Ryan's bag. Nic examined it and confirmed it was indeed a
ticket.
 Looking at Ryan's bag, Nic also found an extra shirt and 2 sticks of
marijuana. So he figured Ryan will go to the concert after all. That
night, Ryan told his parents that he was spending tomorrow night at a
classmate's house for a school requirements. Then later that evening,
he told Nic of his plan to go to the concert. Nic didn't say anything,
but he found it difficult to sleep that night, thinking whether to tell
their parents or not.
1. If you were Nic, what would you do?

2. Why would you choose to do that? What were the things

you considered in deciding what to do?

3. Examine the answer you gave. Compare it with the

responses provided on the next slides. In which of these
responses is your answer the most similar?
Stage 1: "Yes, I will tell our parents. Because if they found out later
that I knew, for sure they will get angry and most likely punish me."
" No, I will not tell because Ryan will make my life difficult and
also punish me for telling."

Stage 2: " Yes I will tell my parents because they will reward me for
it. I will subtly ask for that new iPod that I'm wishing to have."
" No, I will not tell. Ryan will surely grant me a lot of favors for
not telling. He'll not also squeal on me."
Stage 3: "Yes, I will tell so my parents will think I am such
an honest boy."
"No, I will not tell. Ryan will think of me as a really
cool brother!“
Stage 4: "Yes I will tell because we should follow the rules
that our parents say."
"No, because it’s been our rule to keep each others'
secrets."
Stage 5: "Yes I will tell because he might be hurt or get in trouble
and his welfare is top most priority."
"No because he is big enough to question my parents decision
not to let him go."

Stage 6: "Yes I will tell because lying is always wrong and I want
to be true to what I believe in."
"No, because I believe brothers watch out for each other. If he
trusted me with this, I should stay true to him and not say
anything."
In what level of moral development did
your response to the dilemma fall?
Reflect about what this indicates about
your moral reasoning in the moral
dilemma.
 LEVEL STAGE AND EXAMPLE
DESCRIPTION
Pre-conventional Level Stage 1. Punishment/Obedience. A child is refusing to do
- Moral reasoning is One is motivated by fear of something because it is wrong
based on the punishment. He will act according and the consequences could

02
consequence/result of
the act not on the E n t e r ti t l e
to avoid punishment. result to punishment.
whether the act itself is
good or bad. Enter your text here, or paste your text here.

Stage 2. Mutual Benefit. One is When a child is asked by his

motivated to act by the benefit that
one may obtain later. You scratch
my back, I'll scratch yours.
parents to do a chore. The
child asks “what’s in it for
me?” and the parents offer
the child an incentive by giving
him an allowance.
Conventional Level
- Moral reasoning is based on
the conventions or "norms"
of society. This may include
approval of others, law and
order.
Stage 3. Social Approval. One
is motivated by what others
expect in behavior- good boy
or good girl. The person acts
because he/she values how
he/she will appear to others.
He/she gives importance on
what people will think or say.
Stage 4. Law and Order. One
is motivated to act in order to
uphold law and order. The
person will follow the law
because it is the law.
Your friends are planning to
cheat during the exam, and
you did not tell it to your
teacher because you cared
most about your friendship
though you know what
they're planning to do is
wrong.
AJ wears his ID inside the
campus because he follows
the rules and regulations of
the school.
Post Conventional Stage 5. Social Contract. Laws that are
- Moral reasoning is wrong can be changed. One will act
based on enduring or based on social justice and the
consistent principles. common good.
It is not just
recognizing the law,
but the principles
behind the law.
E n t e r ti t l e
Stage 6. Universal Principle. This is
associated with the development of
one's conscience. Having a set of
standards that drives one to possess
moral responsibility to make societal
changes regardless of consequences to
oneself. Examples of persons are
Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Killing someone is a crime/sin
but if you do it as self-
defense, the society will
accept it as reasonable why
you killed somebody.
In Oman, bibles are
prohibited But my mother
has strong faith with God .She
stands with her religion or
being a christian that's why
she still reading it everyday. It
was her principle that truth is
written on bible.
 Thank You!
Reference:
Borabo, H. et al., (2018). The Child and Adolescent Learners and
Learning Principles. Quezon: Lorimar Publishing.