Lawrence Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

Lawrence Kohlberg, an American psychologist known for his theory of stages of moral development (1973).
Held positions at the University of Chicago and Harvard.
His research focuses on moral development, building on Jean Piaget's work on cognitive development.

Law and Morality: "Do you follow the law because you believe it is right, or simply because you are afraid of getting caught?"
Moral Integrity: "Does doing the 'right thing' actually count if you are doing it for the wrong reason?"
Goodness Definition: "Are you a 'good person' because of your actions or because of your intentions?"

Studied how morals evolve with age by interviewing children and following up every 3 years for 20 years.
Identified three different levels of moral thinking that individuals go through when making moral decisions, aimed at evaluating what is right and wrong.

Level 1: Preconventional Morality
- Decisions are based on the anticipation of punishments or rewards.
Level 2: Conventional Morality
- Decisions are influenced by laws and the social norms of the surrounding community.
Level 3: Postconventional Morality
- Decisions are made based on individual rights and principles of justice.

Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation
- Focus on avoiding punishment. Rules are seen as fixed and absolute.
- Example: "I shouldn’t do it because I’ll get in trouble."
Stage 2: Individualism and Exchange
- Consideration of self-interests alongside the interests of others. Recognition that multiple views exist.
- Moral decisions are based on reciprocity and fair exchange of favors.
- Example: "You help me, I help you." "What’s in it for me?"

Stage 3: Interpersonal Relationships
- Emphasis on social harmony and relationships. Conformity to social norms for approval.
- Moral decisions involve maintaining trust, loyalty, and empathy.
- Example: "People will think I’m nice/responsible."
Stage 4: Maintaining Social Order
- Upholding laws, rules, and social conventions. Importance of maintaining social order is recognized.
- Moral decisions focus on fulfilling duties, respecting authority, and societal contribution.
- Example: "Society needs rules to function."

Stage 5: Social Contract and Individual Rights
- Questioning societal norms and rules. Recognition of relative moral standards across different societies.
- Moral decisions are based on social contracts and democratic principles.
- Example: "The law should benefit everyone; if it doesn’t, we may need to challenge it."
Stage 6: Universal Principles
- Development of personal moral principles based on universal ethics. Following self-chosen ethical principles.
- Moral decisions are grounded in justice, equality, and human dignity.
- Example: "I must do what is right even if it’s illegal or unpopular."

Level/Stage Summary:
- Stage I: Obedience/Punishment - No difference in morality and avoiding punishment (Infancy).
- Stage I: Self-Interest - Focus on rewards rather than punishment (Pre-school).
- Stage II: Conformity and Interpersonal Accord - Securing approval and maintaining relationships (School-age).
- Stage II: Authority and Social Order - Morality for maintaining social order (School-age).
- Stage III: Social Contract - Understanding legality versus morality (Teens).
- Stage III: Universal Principles - Morality based on transcendent principles (Adulthood).

Heinz's wife is terminally ill with cancer. A new drug may save her but is overpriced by the chemist.
Heinz cannot afford the drug even with help and ultimately resorts to stealing the drug to save his wife's life.

A choice to pull a lever diverting a trolley from five people to a track with one person, testing moral judgment on killing versus saving.

A doctor must decide whether to allocate a limited medicine supply to save one critically ill patient or distribute it to multiple patients with a higher survival chance.

A journalist faces the decision to expose corruption that could harm innocent involved parties versus the responsibility to report the truth.