Lawrence Kohlberg’s

THEORY
of
Moral Development
 Kohlberg Theory of Moral Development is one of the most important theories in the field of human
psychology. Lawrence Kohlberg was an American psychologist best known for his theory of Stages of
moral development. He has based his theory of moral development on the findings of his studies
conducted on hundreds of children from a different culture.

 Kohlberg extended Piaget's theory, proposing that moral development is a continual process that
occurs throughout the lifespan. His theory outlines six stages of moral development within three
different levels.

Some important concepts of Kohlberg’s Moral Development

Theory  Moral Realism
 Moral Cooperation
 Moral Dilemma
 Moral Reasoning
Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development: Levels and
Stages 
Level 1 : Preconventional Morality
Stage 1 (Obedience and Punishment)
Stage 2 (Individualism and Exchange)
Level 2: Conventional Morality
Stage 3 (Interpersonal Relationships)
Stage 4 (Law and Order Orientation)
Level 3: Post-Conventional Morality
Stage 5 (Social Contract and Individual Rights)
Stage 6 (Universal Ethical Principles)