6stages of Moral Development

Kohlberg’s
6 Stages of Moral
Development
Presented by:
Rodolfo V. Ancheta
BEED 1B
Lawrence Kohlberg
(1927-1987) was an
American psychologist
best known for his theory
of stages of moral
development.
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Building upon Jean Piaget's
cognitive theory of
development, developed
three levels with six stages to
reflect our progression
through moral development. Jean Piaget was a Swiss psychologist and
genetic epistemologist. He is most famously
known for his theory of cognitive
development that looked at how children
develop intellectually throughout the course
of childhood.
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Moral Development
refers to the ways we
distinguish right from
wrong as we grow and
mature.
Stages of Moral Development
Kohlberg identified three levels of moral

reasoning: pre-conventional,
conventional, and post-conventional. Each
level has two sub-stages.
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Level 1 - Preconventional morality
Preconventional morality is the first stage of
moral development, and lasts until
approximately age 9. Children accept and
believe the rules of authority figures, such as
parents and teachers.
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Stage 1: Obedience-and-Punishment Orientation
At stage one, we make moral judgments based

on obedience and punishment. It is all about
the rules. Moral decisions are based on either
being good by following the rules or being bad
by breaking them.
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Stage 2: Individualism and Exchange(Self- interest)
At this stage, children recognize that there is

not just one right view that is handed down by
the authorities. Different individuals have
different viewpoints. Stage 2 is about self-
reward. Moral decisions in this stage are
based on getting a reward that is personally
meaningful.
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Level 2- Conventional morality
Conventional morality is the second stage of moral

development, and is characterized by an acceptance
of social rules concerning right and wrong. At the
conventional level (most adolescents and adults),
we begin to internalize the moral standards of
valued adult role models.
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Stage 3: Good Interpersonal Relationships
The child/individual is good in order to be seen as

being a good person by others. Therefore, answers
relate to the approval of others. Also called Good
Boy, Nice Girl Orientation
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Stage 4: Maintaining the Social Order
The child/individual becomes aware of

the wider rules of society, so judgments
concern obeying the rules in order to
uphold the law and to avoid guilt. Also
called Law-and-Order Orientation.
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Level 3 - Postconventional morality
Postconventional morality is the third stage of
moral development, and is characterized by an
individuals’ understanding of universal ethical
principles.
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Stage 5 - Social Contract and Individual
Rights
The child/individual becomes aware that while
rules/laws might exist for the good of the
greatest number, there are times when they
will work against the interest of particular
individuals.
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Stage 6: Universal-Ethical-Principal Orientation
People at this stage have developed their

own set of moral guidelines which may or
may not fit the law. The principles apply
to everyone.
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The Heinz Dilemma
A woman was on her deathbed. There was only one drug
that the doctors thought might save her. The druggist that
made that particular medicine sold it for ten times the
price of the production costs. The sick woman’s husband,
Heinz, was poor and could not afford to buy the drug, not
even with the financial help of his friends. Heinz then
asked the pharmacist to sell it to him for half the price, but
he refused.
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To save the life of his wife, Heinz broke into the man’s laboratory and
stole the medicine.
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• Should Heinz have stolen
the drug?
• Would it change anything if
Heinz didn’t love his wife?
• What if the person dying
was not his wife, but a
stranger?
• Should the police arrest the
druggist for murder if the
wife had died?
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KEY POINTS
During the preconventional level, a child’s sense of morality is externally controlled. Children
accept and believe the rules of authority figures, such as parents and teachers, and they judge an
action based on its consequences.
During the conventional level, an individual’s sense of morality is tied to personal and societal
relationships. Children continue to accept the rules of authority figures, but this is now because
they believe that this is necessary to ensure positive relationships and societal order.
During the postconventional level, a person’s sense of morality is defined in terms of more
abstract principles and values. People now believe that some laws are unjust and should be
changed or eliminated.
Kohlberg’s theory has been criticized for its cultural and gendered bias toward white, upper-class
men and boys. It also fails to account for inconsistencies within moral judgments.
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THANKS!
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6stages of Moral Development

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Kohlberg’s

Kohlberg identified three levels of moral

At stage one, we make moral judgments based

At this stage, children recognize that there is

Conventional morality is the second stage of moral

The child/individual is good in order to be seen as

The child/individual becomes aware of

People at this stage have developed their

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