LSE B: Kohlberg's Theory

Lawrence Kohlberg

• 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

• Author of a three-stage theory on how moral reasoning develops

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 Moral Ladder

• Post conventional

• Conventional

• Pre-conventional

Ideally people should progress through the 3 stages as part of normal development

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.

1. Preconventional Moral Reasoning

• characterized by the desire to avoid punishment or gain reward

• moral reasoning is based on external rewards and punishments

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

• typically children under the age of 10

Stage 1: Punishment & Obedience

• A focus on direct consequences

• Negative actions will result in punishments

EXAMPLE: Heinz shouldn’t steal the drug because he’d go to jail if he got caught.

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”

EXAMPLE: Heinz should steal the drug because the druggist is being greedy by charging so

much.

2. Conventional Moral Reasoning

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

• people have a strong desire to follow the rules and laws.

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

• 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

EXAMPLE: Heinz should try to steal the drug because that’s what a devoted husband would

do.

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

EXAMPLE: Heinz should not steal the drug because that would be against the law and he has

duty to uphold the law.

3. Postconventional Moral Reasoning

• also known as principled level

• characterized by references to universal ethical principles that represent protecting the

rights or of all people

• reasoning based on personal moral standards

• 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

EXAMPLE: Heinz should steal the drug because his obligation to save his wife’s life must take

precedence over his obligation to respect the druggist’s property rights.

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.

EXAMPLE: Heinz should steal the drug even if the person was a stranger and not his wife. He

must follow his conscience and not let the druggist’s desire for money outweigh the value of a

human life.