Stages of Moral Development by Lawrence Kohlberg

• Kohlberg noticed that the moral reasoning of children tends to change as they grow older
• Kohlberg created the concept of stages of moral development, focusing on reasoning rather than judgment
• Pre-conventional stage:

  • Focuses on self-preservation
  • Aim is to pursue interests while avoiding punishments
  • Authority is external and moral code is shaped by adults and consequences
• Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation

  • Focuses on obeying rules and avoiding punishment
  • Moral decision aimed to avoid punishment
• Stage 2: Pleasure Orientation

  • Focuses on hedonism and reciprocity
  • Moral decision done to fulfill one's interest and another's for one's own interest too
• Conventional stage:

  • Concerned with fulfilling role expectations and following norms
  • Moral code starts to get internalized without being questioned
• Stage 3: Peer and Group Acceptance Orientation

  • "Good boy/Good girl" stage
  • Focuses on maintaining expectations and achieving what others want or need
  • Moral act done to keep relationships and be seen as moral
• Stage 4: Social Structure Orientation

  • Aims to uphold the law and maintain order for the larger picture of society
• Post-conventional stage:

  • Judgment and moral reasoning based on self-chosen principles, individual rights, and justice
  • Person looks inside, examines ethical principles, and acts accordingly
• Stage 5: Social-Contract Orientation

  • Focuses on equality and mutual obligation
  • Recognizes the need for order but understands the rights of individuals
• Stage 6: The Universal Ethical Principle

  • Emphasizes human life, dignity, and equality
  • Person creates their own moral guidelines that may or may not agree with the law
  • Principles made apply to everyone, hence universal
• Kohlberg's theory faced criticisms such as:

  • Sample being exclusively male
  • Age range mostly having no idea about the situation
  • Dilemma being hypothetical
• Kohlberg's work showed that humans can think about moral decisions not just for oneself but also for others

  • Connected psychology and philosophy in establishing moral perspective on human behavior and character