LESSON 9: STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
a) discuss the stages of moral development;
b) identify and articulate each stage of moral development; and
c) check their personal growth, and three other cases, against the stages of moral
development
Learning Contents
- Stages of Moral Development was studied by Lawrence Kohlberg
- Based on Jean Piaget’s earlier work on cognitive development
- Premise: MORAL REASONING is the basis of ETHICAL behavior
- Logic and morality develop through constructive stages
- Six identifiable developmental stages under 3 conventional levels
- convention = socially agreed principles and actions
- The skill or ability in responding to each moral dilemma as the stage progresses
Stages of Moral Development:
1. Level 1 (Pre-Conventional)
- Judgment at this level is solely focused on the self.
- Children, having no knowledge about the societies’ convention on what is right
or wrong, would base his/ her judgment mainly on the external consequences of
their actions.
Stage 1. Obedience and punishment orientation (How can I
avoid punishment?)
- This is the so-called “Pre-moral” stage where decisions and action are
determined by immediate physical consequence and not the true moral value.
- The overall goal of this stage is to avoid punishment.
- For example: “I am going to sleep early because my father will get mad at me
and spank me”.
Stage 2. Self-interest orientation (What's in it for me?)(Paying for a
benefit)
- As children grow older, children begin to see that there is actually room for
negotiation because other people have their own goals to meet and wants that
must be satisfied too.
- For example: “If I get a perfect score, my parents will reward me of a bucket of
Jollibee chicken joy”.
2. Level 2 (Conventional)
- This level is typical to adolescents and adults.
- They use reason in a conventional (what is generally accepted) manner.
- Group rules
- Their decisions and actions are based on societies’ views and expectations.
Stage 3. Interpersonal accord and conformity (Social norms)(The
good boy/girl attitude)
- The child tries to seek approval from other people by living up their expectations.
He/she begins to learn the concepts of loyalty, trust, an gratitude as well as
become interested in motives and intentions behind a particular decision or
action.
- For example: children understand and live by the Golden rule.
Stage 4. Authority and social-order maintaining orientation (Law
and order morality
- The focus at this stage is following the rules, maintaining law and order.
3. Level 3 (Post-Conventional)
- This is known as the “Principal Level”.
- It is marked by a growing realization that people are unique and are independent
part of the society.
- Individual’s own perspective is more significant over what the rest of the society
thinks and that this would sometime lead to disobeying the law to follow
personal principles.
Stage 5. Social contract orientation
- Individual is aware that much of what is considered to be moral or good is
mainly based on personal beliefs as well as on the social group they belong to
and that only a very few of the known fundamental values as actually universal.
- They believe that the world holds different options, rights, and values, thus,
different views should be mutually respected.
Stage 6. Universal ethical principles (Principled conscience)
- Person makes a personal commitment to uphold universal principles of equal
rights and respect.
- Individual has already principled conscience, and will follow universal, ethical
principles regardless of what the laws or the rules say.
- Judgment is based on abstract reasoning such as being able to put oneself in other
people’s shoes.
Learning Activities
Activity1. Reflection Paper on My Moral Development (50 points)
Guide questions for reflection:
1. Write a history of your moral journey from Stage 1 to 5. Cite some situations that
you can remember during each stage.
2. In what stage are you now in your moral development based on Kohlberg’s Stages of
Moral Development? Cite some situations to illustrate your answer.
Mastery Test.
Evaluate each of the situations below. Write the letter that corresponds to your answer on
the space provided.
A. Pre-conventional B. Conventional c. Post-Conventional
________1. “If I listen to my parents, they’ll probably give me money for being
good”.
________2. “I am a conscious objector because killing is always wrong
regradless of what your country says”.
________3. “I won’t cheat during exams because I’m afraid i will be caught
and my teacher will flunk me”.
________4. “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.
________5. “I always wear my school ID the moment I enter the school’s
premises.”
________6. “i should maintain my scholarship because my parents promised
they will buy me a new pair of shoes if i get high grades”.
________7. “I will obey my parents about not having a boyfriend/girlfriend at
this time.”
________8. “I would rather follow what the sign that says “No jaywalking” or
else I will be penalized”.
________9. “I will not hurt any living thing, even this mosquito on my arm.”
________10. “Don’t eat that because mom will get angry.”
