Lawrence Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages
of Moral Development
Prepared by:
Yaranon, Chevrolet J.
Tanguan, Mark Lester J.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
At the end of this Module, you should be able to:

 Explain the stages of moral development.
 Analyze a person’s level of moral reasoning based on
this responses to moral dilemmas.
 Cite how the theory of moral development can be
applied to your work as teacher later on.
INTRODUCTION:
Individuals, when confronted by situations where they need to

make moral decisions, exercise their own ability to use
moral reasoning.
Lawrence Kohlberg was interested in studying the
development of moral reasoning.
He based his theory on the findings of Piaget in studying
cognitive development. Our ability to choose right from
wrong is tied with our ability to understand and reason
logically.
WHO IS LAWRENCE
KOHLBERG?
He is a 20th century developmental

psychologist and moral philosopher.
When he was the director of
Harvard’s Center for Moral
development for Moral Education,
Kohlberg’s research focus on the
moral development of children
particularly on how they develop a
sense of what is right or wrong, as
well as justice.
Lawrence Kohlberg studies morality using a very
interesting (if controversial) technique. In his
research, Kohlberg would ask children and adults to
try solve moral dilemmas in short stories and asked
participants to think out loud so he could follow their
reasoning.
His theory hold that moral reasoning which is the

basis for ethical behavior, has identifiable
developmental stages and each become more
adequate at responding to moral dilemmas as the
person progresses from one stage to the next.
After looking at hundreds of interviews using several
stories, Kohlberg outlined three broad levels and six
specific stages of moral development
If Piaget designed specific tasks
(Piagetian Tasks) to learn about
the cognitive development of
children, Kohlberg utilized moral
Dilemmas (Kohlberg Dilemmas).
I. Pre-Conventional Level
 Moral development is based on the consequence/result of
the act , not on the whether the act itself is good or bad.
STAGE 1: Punishment-Obedience Orientation

 One is motivated by fear of punishment. He will act in
order to avoid punishment
Example: “Yes I will tell our parents. Because if they found out
later that I knew, for sure they will get angry and most
likely punish me.
“No, I will not tell because Ryan will make my life difficult and
also punish me for telling”
STAGE 2: Reward Orientation
 One is motivated to act by the benefit that one may obtain
later. You scratch my back I’ll scratch yours.
Example: “Yes. I will not tell my parents because they will

reward me for it. I will subtly ask for the new I Pod that
I’m wishing to have.”
“No. I will not tell. Ryan will surely grant me a lot of favors
for not telling. He’ll not also squeal on me.”
II. Conventional Morality
 Moral reasoning is based on the conventions or
“norms” of society. This may include approval of
others, law and other. The focus on this level is
“significant others” or what is called as “tyranny of
the they.”
Stage 3: Good Boy/Good Girl Orientation

 One is motivated by what others expect in behavior –
good boy, good girl. The person acts because he/she
values how he/she gives importance on what people
think or say.
Example: “Yes. I will tell so my parents will think I am
such an honest boy.”
No. I will not tell. Ryan will think of me as a really cool

brother!”
Stage 4: Authority Orientation

 One is motivated to act in order to uphold law and
other. The person will follow the law because it is the
law.
Example: “Yes I will tell because we should follow the
rules that our parents say.”
“No, because it’s been our rule to keep each others

secret.”
III. Post Conventional

 Moral reasoning is based on enduring principles. It is
not just recognizing the law, but the principles behind
the law.
Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation
 Laws that are wrong can be changed. One will act
based on social justice and the common good. “The
greater good for the most number of people”
Example: “Yes. I will not tell because he might be hurt

or get in trouble and his welfare is top most priority.”
“No, because he is big enough to question my parents

decision not to let him go.”
Stage 6: Universal Principles
 This is associated with the development of one’s conscience.
Having a set of standards that drives one to posses moral
responsibility to make societal changes regardless of
consequences to oneself. Examples of persons are Mother
Teresa, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Example: “Yes I will tell because lying is always wrong and I

want to be true to what I believe in.”
“No, because I believe brothers watch out for each other. If he

trusted me with this, I should stay true to him and not say
anything.”

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Lawrence Kohlberg’s Stages

At the end of this Module, you should be able to:

Individuals, when confronted by situations where they need to

He is a 20th century developmental

His theory hold that moral reasoning which is the

STAGE 1: Punishment-Obedience Orientation

Example: “Yes. I will not tell my parents because they will

Stage 3: Good Boy/Good Girl Orientation

No. I will not tell. Ryan will think of me as a really cool

Stage 4: Authority Orientation

“No, because it’s been our rule to keep each others

III. Post Conventional

Example: “Yes. I will not tell because he might be hurt

“No, because he is big enough to question my parents

Example: “Yes I will tell because lying is always wrong and I

“No, because I believe brothers watch out for each other. If he

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