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Lesson 6 Stages of Moral Development

Lawrence Kohlberg proposed 6 stages of moral development across 3 levels. [1] The pre-conventional level focuses on self and consequences. [2] The conventional level focuses on obeying rules and pleasing others. [3] The post-conventional level focuses on universal ethical principles over rules. Kohlberg studied how people reason through moral dilemmas to identify the 6 stages of increasingly sophisticated moral reasoning.

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333 views

Lesson 6 Stages of Moral Development

Lawrence Kohlberg proposed 6 stages of moral development across 3 levels. [1] The pre-conventional level focuses on self and consequences. [2] The conventional level focuses on obeying rules and pleasing others. [3] The post-conventional level focuses on universal ethical principles over rules. Kohlberg studied how people reason through moral dilemmas to identify the 6 stages of increasingly sophisticated moral reasoning.

Uploaded by

Jameela
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LESSON 6:

STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT


Pre-discussion:

Watch a video presentation on Heinz’s dilemma. Engage with


the class on what you would do if you were Heinz. Explain your
choice of action.
What to expect:
How did we develop a sense of what is right or wrong? In this
discussion, you should be able to identify the different stages of
Moral Development as stipulated by philosopher and
psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg.
Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral
Development
(Adapted from General Psychology with Drug Education book by Virgie S. Otig, M.A.
and Winston B. Gallinero, M.A.)

 Lawrence Kohlberg was a 20th century developmental


psychologist and moral philosopher. When he was the director
of Harvard’s Center for Moral Education, Kohlberg’s research
focused on the moral development of children particularly on
how they develop a sense of what is right or wrong, as well as
justice. He observed that children move through what he
believed as definite stages of moral development.
 Lawrence Kohlberg studied morality using a very interesting (if controversial)
technique. In his research, Kohlberg would ask children and adults to try solve
moral dilemmas in short stories and asked the participants to think out loud so he
could follow their reasoning. The reason for this was that Kohlberg was not
interested with the specific answers to the dilemmas- he wanted to know how the
person got to his or her answer.

 His theory holds that moral reasoning, which is the basis for ethical behaviour, has
identifiable developmental stages and each become more adequate at responding
to moral dilemmas as the person progresses from one stage to the next. Kohlberg
asserted that the process of moral development was principally concerned with
justice, and that the process goes on throughout the individual’s lifetime.

 After looking at hundreds of interviews using several stories, Kohlberg outlined


three broad levels and six specific stages of moral development.

Kohlberg’s Theory
Level I: Pre- Conventional Morality

Judgement at this level is solely focused on the self. This


line of moral reasoning is common among children although
some adults would also exhibit such behaviour. The child,
having no concept about society’s conventions on what is right
or wrong, would base its judgement mainly on the external
consequences of its actions.
Stage 1: Punishment- Obedience Orientation
This is also called the ‘pre-moral’ stage where decisions and actions are
determined by immediate physical consequence and not the true moral value.
The overall goal at this stage is to avoid punishment.

Stage 2: Reward Orientation


As children grow older, they begin to see that there is actually room for
negotiation because other people have their own goals to meet and wants that
must be satisfied too. Children learn to behave in a manner based on the
principle “What in it for me?”
Level II: Conventional Morality
This level of moral reasoning is typical of adolescents and
adults. Conventional morality is to reason in a conventional
(something that is generally accepted) manner. It is accepting
the rules and standards of one’s group. This means decisions and
the mortality of his/her actions are based on society’s views and
expectations. The focus in this level is the “significant others” or
what is also called “Tyranny of the They” ( They say this…They
say that…They say I should).
 Stage 3: Good Boy/ Good Girl Orientation
At this stage, the child tries to seek approval from other people by living
up to their expectations. He/she also now understands the concept of loyalty,
trust, and gratitude as well as become interested in motives and intentions
behind a particular decision or action.

 Stage 4: Authority Orientation


By this time, individuals have reached adulthood and they usually
consider society as a whole when making judgements. The focus at this stage
is following the rules, maintaining law and order, doing one’s duty, and
respecting authority.
Level III: Post Conventional
This is also known as the ‘principled level’. It is
marked by a growing realization that people are unique
and are an independent part of the society. Therefore,
the individual’s own perspective is more significant
over what the rest of the society thinks and that this
would sometimes lead to disobeying the law to follow
personal principles.
 Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation
This stage means the individual is aware that much of what is considered to be
moral or good is mainly based on personal beliefs as well as on the social group
they belong to and that only a very few of the known fundamental values are
actually universal.
The person at this level understands that the world holds different
opinions,rights, and values; thus different views should be mutually respected. Laws
are also regarded as a matter a social contract with one’s fellow human beings in
order to promote universal values and that decisions are made for “the greater good
for the most number of people”
.
 Stage 6: Ethical- Principle Orientation
At this point, social contract takes a clear back seat and the person makes a
personal commitment to uphold universal principles of equal rights and respect. At this
stage, an individual already has a principled conscience; and will follow universal,
ethical principles regardless of what the laws or the rules say. Judgement here is based on
abstract reasoning such as being able to put oneself in other people’s shoes.

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