Kohlbergs’s Theory of Moral Development

Minal Gupte

Moral Development• gradual development of an individuals concept of

right or wrong – conscious, religious values, social attitudes and certain behaviour

• an aspect of a person’s overall development that follows over the course of a lifetime.

• takes place according to a pre-determined sequence

Lawrence Kohlberg•  a professor at Harvard University for many years•  became famous for his work there beginning in the early

1970s• started as a developmental psychologist and then moved to

the field of moral education • particularly well-known for his theory of moral development • Demonstrated that people progressed in their moral

reasoning (i.e., ethical behaviour) through a series of stages• believed that individuals could only progress through these

stages one at a time

How did Kohlberg come up with this theory ??• started from the research he performed with very young children (as

subjects)

• found out that children are faced with different moral issues

• their judgments on whether they are to act positively or negatively over each dilemma are heavily influenced by several factors

• wanted to find out the reasons why these children think that the character is morally right or no while relating to them

Kohlbergs’s Six stages• Pre-Conventional Moral Development

Stage 1 : Obedience and PunishmentStage 2 : Individualism and Exchange/ Self-

interest

• Conventional Moral DevelopmentStage 3 : Good Interpersonal RelationshipsStage 4 : Maintaining the Social Order

• Post-Conventional Moral DevelopmentStage 5 : Social Contract and Individual

RightsStage 6 : Universal ethical principles

Heinz Dilemma

What should Heinz do ??

Level 1 : Pre-Conventional Stage

• Children don’t have a personal code of morality

• Their moral code is shaped by the standards of adults and consequences of following or breaking their rules

• Authority is outside the individual

• Reasoning is based on the physical consequences of actions

• STAGE 1 : Obedience and Punishment• Kids at home obeys their parents by not touching the electric

appliances. If, they do so they will get punished. (Punishment)

• STAGE 2 : Individualism and Exchange/ Self-interest • “what's in it for me? ” ; satisfying one's needs, or involves a fair

exchange. For Example: You are marking the attendance of your

friend only because, when you will not be in the class she will mark yours.

Level 2 : Conventional Stage • begin to internalize Moral standards valued by

peers• Authority is internalized but not questioned• reasoning is based on the norms of the group to

which the person belongs

• STAGE 3 : Good Interpersonal Relationships• What will People think of me?• referred to as the "good boy-good girl" orientation• focused on living up to social expectations and roles• emphasis on conformity, being "nice“• The child/individual is good in order to be seen as being a

good person by others• EXAMPLE: Avoid to drink in social parties will be considered

unethical because your peers expect from you that will drink.

• STAGE 4 : Authority Maintaining the Social Order• obeying the law of society is the right thing to do• Actions against the law of country are said to be unethical• Example : As her husband, Heinz has a duty to save his wife's

life; so, he should steal the drug. But it's wrong to steal, so Heinz should be prepared to accept the penalty for breaking the law.

Level 3 : Post-Conventional Stage• Individual judgment based on self-

chosen principles • moral reasoning based on individual

rights and justice.• most people take their moral views

from those around them (minority think through ethical principles for themselves)

• STAGE 5 : Social Contract and Individual Rights• Laws are changeable • Right action is one that protects the rights of the individual • EXAMPLE : Heinz should steal the drug because everyone has the

right to life regardless of the law against stealing.

Should Heinz be caught and prosecuted for stealing OR the law (against stealing) needs to be reinterpreted because a person's life is at stake.

• STAGE 6 : Universal ethical principles• universal principles of justice, equality and human dignity• moral reasoning is based on universal ethical principles and

abstract reasoning. • people follow these internalized principles of justice, even if

they conflict with laws and rules• EXAMPLE : The person will be prepared to act to defend

these principles even if it means going against the rest of society in the process and having to pay the consequences of disapproval and or imprisonment.

Criticisms to the theory• Does moral reasoning necessarily lead to moral behaviour? (big

difference between knowing what we ought to do versus our actual actions)

 • Is justice the only aspect of moral reasoning we should consider?

(moral development overemphasizes the concept as justice when making moral choices)  

• Does Kohlberg's theory overemphasize Western philosophy? (Eastern cultures may have different moral outlooks that Kohlberg's theory does not account for)

Thankyou !!