Lawrence Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

Vocabulary flashcards covering Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development, the Heinz dilemma, the three levels and six stages of moral reasoning, and key critiques of the theory.

Lawrence Kohlberg

A developmental theorist who built on the work of Piaget, arguing that moral values are learned through active thinking and reasoning across six stages organized into three levels.

Heinz Dilemma

Kohlberg's best-known moral dilemma about a man named Hines who breaks into a pharmacy to steal a cancer drug costing $2,000$ that the druggist refused to sell for the $1,000$ Hines raised.

Pre-conventional Morality (Level One)

The first level of moral reasoning that focuses on self-interest, where punishment is avoided and rewards are sought.

Stage 1: Obedience / Punishment Orientation

A stage of preconventional morality where moral reasoning is based on concepts of punishment, and an action is judged wrong if its consequence is punishment.

Stage 2: Individualism and Exchange / Reward Orientation

A stage of preconventional morality where behavior is judged in relation to personal benefit, exchange, self-interest, and getting needs met.

Conventional Morality (Level Two)

The level of moral reasoning where right and wrong are determined by social expectations, the approval of others, and compliance with the law.

Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships

A stage of conventional morality where a person wants to please others and reasons about being helpful, kind, approved of, or viewed as a good person.

Stage 4: Maintaining Social Order / Law and Order

A stage of conventional morality where an individual acknowledges the importance of duty, social order, rules, formal expectations, and laws to be a good member of society.

Post-conventional Morality (Level Three)

The level of moral reasoning focusing on adolescence and adulthood, where moral choices are evaluated through abstract reasoning and broader ethical principles.

Stage 5: Social Construct and Individual Rights

A stage of postconventional morality where individuals use abstract reasoning to justify behaviors, recognizing that laws can be unjust and the entire situation must be weighed.

Stage 6: Universal Principles

A stage of postconventional morality where moral behavior is based on self-chosen ethical principles, such as prioritizing human life over property rights.

Gender Bias Critique

A critique of Kohlberg arguing his theory favors male moral approaches based on law and order (rated at level four) over female approaches based on interpersonal care (rated at level three).

Care Perspective

A perspective highlighted by critics arguing that relationships, care, and responsibility should be recognized as moral strengths rather than classified as lower stages of reasoning.

Cultural Limits Critique

The argument that Kohlberg's model is geared toward Western samples and fails to fit non-Western cultures where allegiance to social norms and respect for authority are prioritized.

Reasoning Versus Behavior

The observation that there is often little correlation between a person's moral stage score and their actual real-life behavior under stress or peer pressure.

Seven Grandfather Teachings

Values taught by many Indigenous nations that offer an Indigenous perspective on moral values and right action.