Teach the Teachers

A Gram Pathshala Initiative by Catalystic Project

Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of Moral Development
 Lawrence Kohlberg

• Lawrence Kohlberg was an American Psychologist, born in New Your city in 25 th October,
1927.
• He began work on this topic as a psychology graduate student at the University of
Chicago in 1958 and best known for his theory of different stages of moral development.
• He extends Jean Piaget’s Theory of Cognitive development. He gives three levels of moral
development and three levels are divided into two stages each.
 Morality
• In Children, morality can be developed by combining the effort of school, family members
and peer groups.
• Morality includes the sense of right and wrong, correct and incorrect and a sense of
judgment. It is a value which determines actions and these actions decide the life of a
person.
Social Contract
Universal Ethical Principles
Levels/Stages of Moral Development

Pre-conventional Post-conventional
Conventional (based
(based on directed (based on a sense of
on wanting to please)
consequences) justice)

Obedience & Good Boy/Nice Social Contract &

Punishment Girl Individual Rights

Individualism & Universal Ethical

Law and Order
Exchange Principles
The Heinz dilemma
Stage 1 Heinz should not steal the drug as he may go to jail if he is caught.

Stage 2 It is right for Heinz to steal the drug because it can cure his wife and then
she can cook for him.

Stage 3 Heinz should steal the drug from the store in order to be a good partner to
his wife.

Stage 4 Heinz should not steal the drug because that would be against the law and he
has duty to uphold the law.

Stage 5 Heinz should steal the drug because everyone has the right to life regardless
of the law against stealing.

Stage 6 Heinz should steal the drug even if the person was a stranger and not his
wife. He must follow his conscience and not let the druggist’s desire for
outweigh the value of a human life.
Thank You