AP Psychology: 6.03 Kohlberg’s Moral Development

Preconventional Level

Stage 1: Punishment and Obedience Orientation- “if I can get away with it I will”

Stage 2: Pleasure–Seeking Orientation- “what’s in it for me?”

Conventional Level

Stage 3: Approval-Seeking Orientation –“I don’t misbehave because my teacher wouldn’t like it.”

Stage 4: Law and Order Orientation – “I don’t steal because it is against the law.”

Postconventional Level

Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation – “I don’t steal because society has made a law against stealing.”

Stage 6: Universal Moral Principles Orientation – “I don’t steal because it is wrong.”

Kohlberg

In Kohlberg’s research he posed a variety of moral dilemmas to children, adolescents, and adults, then analyzed their answers for evidence of stages of moral thinking. The Heinz Dilemma is one of his best known.