Six Stages of Moral Development

The American psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg

(1927-1987) is best known for his theory of stages
of moral development. In principle, he agreed
with
the Swiss clinical psychologist Jean Piaget’s
(1896- 1980) theory of moral development but
wanted to develop his ideas further.
Level 1 – Pre-conventional morality
Stage 1. Obedience and
Punishment Orientation
Stage 2. Individualism and
Exchange
Level 2 – Conventional morality
Stage 3. Good Interpersonal
Relationships Stage 4. Maintaining the
Social Order
Level 3 – Post-conventional morality
Stage 5. Social Contract and Individual
Rights Stage 6. Universal Principles
 Level Age Range Stage Nature of Moral Reasoning
Level I: Seen in preschool children, Stage 1: People make decisions based on what is
Preconventio most elementary school Punishment best for themselves, without regard for
nal Morality students, some junior - other’s needs or feelings. They obey rules
high school students, avoidance only if established by more powerful
and a new high school and individuals; they may disobey if they aren’t
students obedience likely to get caught. “Wrong” behaviors
are those that will be punished.
Stage 2: People recognize that others also have
Exchange need. They may try to satisfy other’s needs
of favors if their own need are also met (“you
scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours”). They
continue
to define right and wrong primarily in terms
of
consequences to themselves.
Level II: Seen in a few older Stage 3: People make decisions based on what
Convention elementary school Good actions will please others, especially
al Morality students, some junior high boy/gir authority figures and other individuals with
students, and many high l high status (e.g., teacher, popular peers).
school students (Stage 4 They concerned about maintaining
typically does not appear relationships through sharing trust, and
until the high school loyalty, and they take other people’s
 Level Age Range Stage Nature of Moral Reasoning
Stage 4: People look to society as a whole for guidelines
Law and about right or wrong. They know rules are
order necessary for keeping society running
smoothly and believe it is their “duty” to
obey them.
However, they perceive rules to be inflexible; they
don’t necessarily recognize that as society’s
needs
change, rules should change as well.
Level III: Rarely seen before Stage 5: People recognize that rules represent agreements
Postconventional college (Stage 6 is Social among many individuals about appropriate
Morality extremely rare even contract behavior. Rules are seen as potentially useful
mechanisms that can maintain the general social
in adults)
order and protect individual rights, rather than as
absolute dictates that must be obeyed simply
because they are “the law.” People also
recognize the flexibility of rules; rules that no
longer serve society’s best interests can and
should be changed.
Stage 6: Stage 6 is a hypothetical, “ideal” stage that few
Univers people ever reach. People in this stage adhere
al to a few abstract, universal principles (e.g.,
equality of all people, respect for human
ethical
dignity, commitment to justice) that transcend
principle specific norms and rules. They answer to a
 5. Getting to the Highest
Level, Conscience-Based Moral
Decisions
Stage 1: Respect for power and punishment
Motto: “Might makes right”

Stage 2: Looking out for #1

Motto: : “What’s in it for me?”

Stage 3: Being a “Good Boy” or “Nice Girl”

Motto: “I want to be nice”
 5. Getting to the Highest Level,
Conscience-Based Moral
Decisions
Stage 4: Law and order thinking
Motto: “I’ll do my duty”

Stage 5: Justice through democracy

Motto: “I’ll live by rules or try to
change them”

Stage 6: Deciding on basic moral principle

by which you will live your life and relate to
everyone fairly
Motto; “I will subscribe to the Golden
Rule or act on my own values”