AO1

• Kohlberg suggested a stage theory of moral development where some individuals did not progress past certain levels, making them more likely to commit a crime
• Kohlberg proposed three levels of moral reasoning each level with two stages.
• Level 1 of Kohlberg’s theory was called ‘pre-conventional’ morality.
• Pre-conventional stages

  1. Punishment stage - if punishment is not definite a crime is more likely to occur.
  2. Reward stage - if potential gains are good then crime is more likely
• Level 2 of Kohlberg’s theory was called ‘conventional’ morality.
• Conventional stages

  1. Good boy/girl stage: considers what other people think, if closest people are criminals then crime is more likely 
  2. Law and order stage: less likely to commit a crime as they know it is illegal
• In Kohlberg’s level 3 of moral reasoning the focus is on individual abstract ideas of justice, which govern behaviour.
• Post-conventional stages

  1. Social contract stage: adheres to the law but may commit a crime under certain circumstances where they feel the law should not apply
  2. Ethical principle stage: where an individual has their own moral code and may commit a crime if they feel the law is unjust
• Many studies have suggested that offenders tend to show a lower level of moral reasoning than non-offenders.
• Offenders are more likely to be classified at the pre-conventional level of Kohlberg’s stages, whereas non-offenders have generally progressed to the conventional level and beyond.
• Individuals who reason at higher levels tend to sympathise more with the rights of others and exhibit more conventional behaviours such as honesty, generosity and non-violence.