Kohlberg - Moral Development
Lawrence Kohlberg [1927-1987] was a an American developmental psychologist whose theory of moral development (1958) built upon Jean Piaget's (1932) ideas concerning moral reasoning.
Kohlberg used Piaget’s storytelling technique to present his research subjects with situations involving moral dilemmas, such as the 'Heinz dilemma'. In each case he presented them with a choice to be considered, for example, between the rights of some authority and the needs of some deserving individual who is being unfairly treated.
As a result of his studies, Kohlberg (1958) proposed the following model of moral development:
Pre-conventional level [the individual shows concern for self-interest and external reward/punishment]
- Stage 1 - Obedience & Punishment [avoid getting in trouble]
- Stage 2 - Individualism & Exchange ['what's in it for me?']
Conventional level [the individual does what is expected by others]
- Stage 3 - Good boy / Good Girl [makes me look good]
- Stage 4 - Maintenance of Social Order ['because it's the law']
Post-conventional level [the individual develops more autonomous decision making based on principles]
- Stage 5 - The Social Contract ['for the common good']
- Stage 6 - Principled Conscience [personal integrity]
Pre-adolescent children are generally expected to be at the first two stages of this model. On the next page you are going to watch a video which uses examples to give each level of the model more detail. After watching the video, you will take part in a discussion.