Kohlberg’s Stages of

Moral Development
Who was Lawrence Kohlberg?

• Born in New York City in 1927

• Graduated from the University of Chicago in one
year
• Attended Yale and earned a PhD in Psychology
• Became fascinated by moral development in
children
• Theorized six stages of human moral development
Kholbergs theory of moral development

• Studying the development of moral reasoning

• Based his theory on the findings of Piaget in
studying cognitive development
• Focuses on the reason behind every action
• Took 5 years to published his view about moral
development
• Known of his HEINZ DILEMMA
Levels of Moral Reasoning
• Preconventional- Moral reasoning is based on the
consequences/result of the act, not on the whether the act
itself is good or bad.
• Conventional- Moral reasoning is based on the convention
or norms of society. This may include approval of others,
law and other.
• Post-conventional- Moral reasoning is based on enduring or
consistent principles. It not just recognizing the law, but the
principles behind the
Preconventional Level
STAGE 1 Punishment/Obedience
One is motivated by fear of punishment. He
will act in order to avoid punishment.
STAGE 2 Mutual Benefit
One is motivated to act by the benefit that
one may obtain later. You scratch my back, I’ll
scratch yours.
Conventional Level
STAGE 3 Social Approval
One is motivated by what others expect in behavior-
good boy, good girl. The person acts because he/she
values how he/she will appear to others. He/she gives
importance on what people will think or say.
STAGE 4 Law and Order
One is motivated to act in order to uphold law and
order. The person will follow the law because it is law.
Post-conventional
STAGE 5 Social Contract
Law that are wrong can be changed. One will act based on
social justice and the common good.
STAGE 6 Universal Principles
This is associated with the development of one’s
conscience. Having a set of standards that drives one to possess
moral responsibility to make societal changes regardless of
consequences to oneself. Examples of persons are Mother Teresa,
Martin Luther King Jr.
Problems with Kohlberg's Methods

• The dilemmas are artificial (i.e., they lack

ecological validity)
• The sample is biased
• The dilemmas are hypothetical(i.e., they are
not real)
• Poor research design