Republic of the Philippines

Commission on Higher Education

St. Camillus College of Manaoag Foundation, Inc.
Higher Education Department
COLLEGE OF TEACHER EDUCATION

STAGES OF MORAL
DEVELOPMENT
Reporters:
ABRIGO, ROCHELLE ANN
MEJIA, KAREN
 MORALITY

Principles concerning the distinction

between right and wrong or good and
bad behavior.
LAWRENCE KOHLBERG

October 25, 1927 – January 19, 1987

Was a Jewish American psychologist born in

Bronxville, New York.

Expanded on the earlier work of cognitive

theorist Jean Piaget to explain the moral
development of children, which he believed
follows a series of stages.
 Heinz
Dilemma
 THE HEINZ DELEMMA

Heinz’s wife was near death from

special kind of cancer.
 Doctors said a new drug might
save her. The drug has been
discovered by a local chemist.

Heinz desperately to buy some, but

the chemist was charging ten times
the money it cost make the drug,
and this was much more than the
Heinz could afford.
Heinz could only raise half money, even
after help from family and friends. He
explained to the chemist that his wife
was dying and asked if he could have a
drug cheaper or pay the rest of the
money later.

The husband was desperate to save

his wife, so later that night he broke
into chemist’s and stole the drug.
Should Heinz have stolen the drug for his wife?

YES NO
 QUESTIONS

Would it change anything if Heinz did not love his wife?

What if the person dying was a stranger, would it make any

difference?

Should the police arrest the chemist for murder if the women
died?
 Lawrence Kohlberg – Moral Development

Pre - conventional Post - conventional

Conventional level
level level

Stage 1 Stage 3 Stage 5

Stage 2 Stage 4 Stage 6

 HEINZ DILEMMA

A B C

Heinz should steal the Heinz should not steal Heinz should steal the
drugs, and not go to drug, since he would be drug, and accept any
prison as this is unfair. breaking the law. prison sentence.
 LEVEL 1: Pre – conventional level

Heinz should not steal

the drug, since he would
be breaking the law

Stage 1: Punishment/ obedience Stage 2: Instrumental purpose

orientation orientation

Behavior is determined by Behavior is determined by

consequences. The individual consequences. The individual
will obey in order to avoid focuses on receiving rewards
punishment. or satisfying personal needs.
 LEVEL 2: Conventional level

Stage 3: Good boy/ Nice Girl Stage 4: Law and order

orientation orientation

Behavior is determined by Social rules and laws

social approval. The
individual wants to maintain
or win the affection and
approval of others by being
a “good person”.
determine behavior. The
individual now takes into
consideration a larger
perspective, that of societal
laws.
 LEVEL 3: Post –
Stage 5: Social contract orientation
Individual rights determine
behavior. The individual views
laws and rules as flexible tools
for improving human
purposes.
conventional level
Stage 6: universal principle
orientation
At this stage, the appropriate
action is determined by one’s
self-chosen ethical principles
of conscience.
THANK FOR LISTENING!