LSE 10B - Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

Lawrence Kohlberg

He expanded on the earlier work of cognitive theorist, Jean Piaget, to explain the moral devt. of children, which he believed follows a series of stages

Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

states that we progress through 3 levels of moral thinking that build in our cognitive development

Moral reasoning

is the aspect of cognitive development that has to do with the way an individual reasons about moral decisions

Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

• Assessed moral reasoning by posing hypothetical moral dilemmas and examining the reasoning behind people’s answers

• Proposed three distinct levels of moral reasoning: preconventional, conventional, and postconventional

• Each level is based on the degree to which a person conforms to conventional standards of society

• Each level has two stages that represent different degrees of sophistication in moral reasoning

Preconventional Moral Reasoning

characterized by the desire to avoid punishment or gain reward

Preconventional Moral Reasoning

moral reasoning is based on external rewards and punishments

Preconventional Moral Reasoning

reasoner’s judge the morality of an action by its direct consequences

Preconventional Moral Reasoning

typically children under the age of 10

Stage 1: Punishment & Obedience

• A focus on direct consequences

• Negative actions will result in punishments

Stage 2: Mutual Benefit

• Getting what one wants often requires

giving something up in return

• “Right” is a fair exchange.

• Morals guided by what is “fair”

Conventional Moral Reasoning

primary concern is to fit in and play the role of a good citizen

Conventional Moral Reasoning

people have a strong desire to follow the rules and laws

Conventional Moral Reasoning

laws and rules are upheld simply because they are laws and rules

Conventional Moral Reasoning

typical of adolescents and adults

Stage 3: Interpersonal Expectations

• An attempt to live up to the expectations of

important others

• Follow rules or do what others would want so

that you win their approval

• Negative actions will harm those relationships

Stage 4: Law-and-Order

• To maintain social order, people must

resist personal pressures and follow the

laws of the larger society

• Respect the laws & authority

Postconventional Moral Reasoning

also known as principled level

Postconventional Moral Reasoning

characterized by references to universal ethical principles that represent protecting the rights or of all people

Postconventional Moral Reasoning

reasoning based on personal moral standards

Postconventional Moral Reasoning

most adults do not reach this level.

Stage 5: Legal Principles

• Must protect the basic rights of all people by

upholding the legal principles of fairness,

justice, equality & democracy.

• Laws that fail to promote general welfare or

that violate ethical principles can be changed,

reinterpreted, or abandoned

Stage 6: Universal Moral Principles

• Self-chosen ethical principles

• Profound respect for sanctity of human life, nonviolence,

equality & human dignity

• Moral principles take precedence over laws that might

conflict with them,

• Conscientious objectors – refuses to be drafted because

they are morally opposed to war