Lawrence Kohlberg’s
Stages of Moral Development
Moral Development
· Moral reasoning is how people think about the “rules” of ethical and moral
conduct but does not predict what a person actually do in a given situation
· It is the ability of an individual to distinguish right from wrong and develop
ethical values on which to base his or her actions.
Lawrence Kohlberg’s stages of moral development
• focuses on the thinking process that occurs when one decides whether a
behaviour is right or wrong.
Level 1: Preconventional level
• Morality is externally controlled
• Rules imposed by authority figures are conformed to in order to avoid
punishment or receive rewards.
Stage 1: Punishment/obedience orientation
• The individual will obey in order to avoid punishment.
Stage 2: Instrumental purpose orientation
• The individual focuses on receiving rewards or satisfying personal
needs.
Level 2: Conventional level
• The individual strives to support rules that are set forth by others such as
parents, peers, and the government in order to win their approval or to
maintain social order.
Stage 3: Good Boy/Nice Girl orientation
• The individual wants to maintain or win the affection and approval of
others by being a “good person.”
Stage 4: Law and order orientation
• Moral decision making becomes more than consideration of close ties to
others. The individual believes that rules and laws maintain social order
that is worth preserving.
Level 3: Postconventional or principled level
• Morality is defined in terms of abstract principles and values that apply to
all situations and societies. The individual attempts to take the perspective
of all individuals.
• Stage 5: Social contract orientation
The individual views laws and rules as flexible tools for improving human
purposes. principles of conscience. These principles are abstract and
universal in application. This type of reasoning involves taking the
perspective of every person or group that could potentially be affected by
the decision.
• Stage 6: Universal ethical principle orientation
At this stage behaviour is determined again by consequences. The
individual focuses on receiving rewards or satisfying personal needs.
