Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

• Kohlberg's theory outlines six stages of moral development, progressing from a focus on punishment and reward to universal ethical principles.
• The stages are categorized into three levels: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional.

Pre-conventional Level

• Stage 1: Focus on avoiding punishment. Actions are determined by the potential consequences.
• Stage 2: Focus on self-interest. Good actions are those that serve one's own needs or desires. A child might share a cookie to get another one in return.

Conventional Level

• Stage 3: Focus on social approval. Good actions are those that gain approval from others. A child might refuse to steal a cookie because it's not the "right" thing to do.
• Stage 4: Focus on maintaining social order. Good actions are those that uphold rules and societal expectations. A child might follow a rule because it's the law, regardless of personal feelings.

Post-conventional Level

• Stage 5: Focus on legal rights and social contracts. Recognizing the need for laws and how they can be revised or challenged to benefit society. Taking a position based on a societal or legal understanding for something, even if it's not directly asked for.
• Stage 6: Focus on universal ethical principles. Good actions are based on abstract values like justice, equality, and dignity. A focus on individual rights and how to make a choice based upon these abstract ethical principles.

Examples of Stages

• Stage 1: If a child is told they'll get in trouble for stealing a cookie, they might refrain.
• Stage 2: If a child is promised a candy bar for doing a chore, they might complete it.
• Stage 3: If a child wants to be seen as a good friend, they might share a cookie.
• Stage 4: If a child understands the value of laws, they might acknowledge that shoplifting is wrong regardless of the desire to have a cookie.
• Stage 5: A child might acknowledge stealing a cookie is against societal rules, but still question the validity of those rules.
• Stage 6: A child might refuse to steal a cookie even if no one is looking, because they know it is wrong ethically.

Explore the intricacies of Kohlberg's six stages of moral development in this quiz. Learn about the progression from self-interest to universal ethical principles and test your understanding of the pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional levels. Challenge yourself to apply these concepts through various scenarios.