“Moral Compass” by psd is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Kohlberg’s theory of moral development
Kohlberg’s theory of moral development proposes that moral reasoning progresses through six stages, grouped into three levels: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional (Kohlberg, 1984; Kohlberg & Hersh, 1977).
The Three Levels and Six Stages
Pre-conventional Level
Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation: Moral reasoning is based on avoiding punishment. Actions are judged by their consequences, not by moral value. The individual obeys rules to avoid negative outcomes (Kohlberg, 1984).
Stage 2: Individualism and Exchange: Moral reasoning is based on rewards and self-interest. The focus is on what benefits the individual, and actions are seen as transactions (Kohlberg, 1984).
Conventional Level
Stage 3: Interpersonal Accord and Conformity: Moral reasoning is based on social approval and maintaining good relationships. The individual wants to be seen as a “good person” and values interpersonal harmony (Kohlberg, 1984).
Stage 4: Authority and Social-Order Maintaining Orientation: Moral reasoning is based on laws and social order. The individual believes that rules and laws maintain social order and are worth preserving (Kohlberg, 1984).
Post-conventional Level
Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation: Moral reasoning is based on social contracts and the idea that laws can be changed if they do not serve the greater good. The individual recognizes the importance of democratic processes and the flexibility of laws (Kohlberg, 1984).
Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles: Moral reasoning is based on universal ethical principles. The individual acts according to principles of justice and fairness, even if they conflict with laws. This stage involves taking the perspective of every person or group that could potentially be affected by the decision (Kohlberg, 1984).
Key Concepts
Invariant Sequence: Kohlberg believed that individuals progress through the stages in a fixed order, and stages cannot be skipped (Kohlberg, 1984).
Moral Dilemmas: Kohlberg used moral dilemmas, such as the Heinz dilemma, to assess moral reasoning. He was interested in the form of moral reasoning, not the conclusion (Kohlberg & Hersh, 1977).
Justice and Ethics: Kohlberg’s theory emphasizes justice and ethical principles, and it continues throughout the individual’s life (Kohlberg, 1984).
How do Kohlberg’s six stages differ from each other?
Kohlberg’s six stages of moral development differ in the underlying reasoning and perspective that individuals use to make moral judgments, progressing from a focus on external consequences to internalized ethical principles (Kohlberg, 1984; Kohlberg & Hersh, 1977).
Focus: The stages progress from a focus on external consequences (Stage 1) to internalized ethical principles (Stage 6) (Kohlberg, 1984).
Perspective: The reasoning shifts from self-interest (Stage 2) to social norms (Stage 3 and 4) to universal principles (Stage 5 and 6) (Kohlberg, 1984).
Complexity: Each stage builds on the previous one, with increasing complexity and abstraction in moral reasoning (Kohlberg, 1984).
References
Kohlberg, L. (1984) The psychology of moral development: Essays on moral development, Vol. 2. Harper & Row.
Kohlberg, L., & Hersh, R. H. (1977) Moral development: A review of the theory. Theory into Practice, 16(2), 53–59.
- https://www.simplypsychology.org/kohlberg.html
- https://www.verywellmind.com/kohlbergs-theory-of-moral-development-2795071
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Kohlberg’s_stages_of_moral_development
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bounwXLkme4&vl=en
- https://www.therapytrainings.com/pages/blog/kohlbergs-stages-of-moral-development-applications-in-therapy
- https://www.britannica.com/science/Lawrence-Kohlbergs-stages-of-moral-development
- https://www.appstate.edu/~steelekm/classes/psy2664/kohlberg.htm
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