Kohlberg

• Kohlberg

  He developed his own moral development theory
• Kohlberg's moral development theory

  • Based off Piaget's theory
  • Believed there are 3 stages: pre-conventional, conventional and post-conventional
  • Each stage had 2 subsections
• Pre-conventional stage subsections


  • Avoid punishment
  • Seek rewards
• Conventional stage subsections


  • Good boy behaviour (please others)
  • Law and order
• Post-conventional stage subsections


  • Social contract
  • Universal principles
• Kohlberg's research

  1. Studied 75 American boys aged 10-16 for 12 years

  2. Compared to boys from other cultures like Turkey and Mexico

  3. Asked hypothetical moral dilemmas and recorded answers/justifications

  4. Example: Heinz Dilemma
• Kohlberg found that participants progressed through the stages in a linear order as they aged, but not all reached the final stage
• When children were given the views of children in a stage above them, they tended to move up to this stage
• Middle class boys were more advanced in moral judgement
• Kohlberg concluded that his theory was correct and not influenced by social, cultural, or religious differences
• The stages are ordered hierarchically, with higher-order stages being more complex than lower ones.
• Higher levels of morality involve greater concern for others and society as a whole.
• Children's understanding of right and wrong is based on their own needs and desires at first, then gradually becomes more concerned with other people's feelings and expectations.
• At the highest level of development, individuals strive to maintain consistency between personal values and principles and those of society as a whole.