Theory of moral development levels and stages

• Pre-conventional: Stage 1 – all about punishment, children are focused on consequences of actions rather than whether the action has a value. Stage 2- action is based on what is most beneficial for the individual sometimes for others, but only if the other will return the favour.
• Conventional: Stage 3 – at this stage, action is about pleasing and getting approval from other people – being seen as good. Behaviour is judged on intention rather than action. Stage 4- behaviour in this stage is based around obeying authority and maintain social order
• Post-conventional stage 5

  Moral behaviour is defined by what has been agreed upon by society as a whole – what is considered lawful
• Post-conventional stage 6

  Behaviour is based on abstract ideas of justice and what is ethical, human rights and the respect for other human beings is seen as the most important element
• Anti-social behaviour


  More common in the second stage where morality is egocentric
• Passing to the next stage where the focus is on getting approval from others


  Levels of anti-social behaviour drop and people begin to act in a more pro-social manner
• Chen and Howitt (2007) found that young offenders who were in prison for crimes such as violent behaviour or theft were at a lower level of moral reasoning compared to a control group
• Janssens and Dekovic (1997) found children who grew up with supportive parents and rules were more likely to behave in a pro-social way and show higher levels of moral reasoning
• Family background is very important to how we think morally and whether or not we will behave in a pro-social or anti-social way