Kohlbererg's levels of moral reasoning

• Kohlbereg suggests that there are 6 stages of moral reasoning and 3 levels
• level 1 - pre-conventional morality
• pre conventional morality - immature stage
• stage 1 -obedience and punishment: child learns to understand that obeying rules is important because it is a way of avoiding punishment
• stage 2 - individualism and exchange: Childs moral reasoning is egocentric and are only concerned with actions that bring about individual reward
• level 2 - conventional morality
• stage 3 - interpersonal relationships: referred to as 'good boy-nice girl' orientation. moral reasoning is focused on the need to conform and please others, such as parents
• stage 4 - maintaining social order: rules learned in this stage are placed within the context of society and moral reasoning is based on maintaining LAW, following the rules and respecting authority
• level 3 - port-conventional morality
• stage 5 - social contract and individual rights: moral reasoning is based on what society has agreed upon as being right and wrong based one the differing values, opinions and beliefs of its citizens
• stag 6 - universal principles: the individual is fully developed in moral understanding and moral reasoning is based upon internal ethical principles and abstract reasoning, which may conflict with existing laws