Kohlberg Moral Development

Kohlberg stage 1: punishment and obedience

a child follows the parent's wishes to avoid time out

Kohlberg stage 2: mutual benefit

a child will share a toy with a friend if they can swap toys in 5 minutes

Kohlberg stage 3: interpersonal relationships

a child in 3rd grade volunteers to help a peer catch up on absent work to be seen as "nice" and "good'

Kohlberg stage 4: law and order

a person sets their cruise control to 55 mph to avoid breaking the posted speed limit

Kohlberg stage 5: human rights/social contract

defending a person from unjust treatment such as being bullied

Kohlberg stage 6: universal ethical principles

conscientious objectors during the Vietnam War refused to be drafted into military service if it conflicted with their personal convictions--even if it meant serving jail time

preconventional level

first level of reasoning in Kohlberg's theory, where moral reasoning is based on external forces

conventional level

second level of reasoning in Kohlberg's theory, where moral reasoning is based on society's norms

post conventional level

Highest level of moral development; at this level, decisions about morality depend on abstract principles and the value of all life.