Lawrence Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development 

 

 

 

 

Sydnei Pearcy & Paxton Goates 

Biography 

Educator at Harvard and psychologist. 

Lawrence Kohlberg expanded on the earlier work of cognitive theorist Jean Piaget to explain the moral development of children. Kohlberg believed that moral development, like cognitive development follows a series of stages. He used the idea of moral dilemmas—stories that present conflicting ideas about two moral values—to teach 10 to 16 year-old boys about morality and values.

 

Kohlberg's Theory 

Level 1: Preconventional

A child with pre-conventional morality has not yet adopted or internalized society's conventions regarding what is right or wrong, but instead focuses largely on external consequences that certain actions may bring.

Stage 1: Obedience-and-Punishment Orientation 

Stage 2: Market Exchange  

Stage 1: Obedience-and-Punishment

Orientation

Consequences of acts determine whether they're good or bad. Individuals make moral decisions without considering the needs or feelings of others. 

 

 

Stage 2: Market Exchange 

The ethics of "what's in it for me?" Obeying rules and exchanging favors are judge in terms of the benefit to the individual. 

 

"you scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours" mentality.

 

Level 2: Conventional 

Throughout the conventional level, a child's sense of morality is tied to personal and societal relationships. Children continue to accept the rules of authority figures, but this is now due to their belief that this is necessary to ensure positive relationships and societal order. 

 

Conformity of rules and conventions of society. 

 

Stage 3: Interpersonal Harmony 

Stage 4: Law and Order 

 

Stage 3: Interpersonal Harmony 

In stage 3, children want the approval of others and act in ways to avoid disapproval. Emphasis is placed on good behavior and people being "nice" to others. 

 

Stage 4: Law and Order 

The ethics or laws, rules, and societal order. 

 

Moral reasoning in stage four is beyond the need for individual approval exhibited in stage three. If one person violates a law, perhaps everyone would therefore, there is an obligation and a duty to uphold laws and rules. 

 

Level 3: Postconventional 

The ethics of Principles. 

 

The focus is on the principles underlying society's rules. 

 

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.

 

Stage 5: Social Contract 

Stage 6: Universal Principles 
 

Stage 5: Social Contract 

Rules and laws represent agreements among people about behaviors that benefits society. 

 

Laws are regarded as social contracts rather than rigid edicts. Those that do not promote the general welfare should be changed when necessary to meet the greatest good for the greatest number of people.

 

Stage 6: Universal Principles 

Rarely encountered in life. 

 

These ethics are determined by abstract and general principles that transcend societal rules. 

 

Generally, the chosen principles are abstract rather than concrete and focus on ideas such as equality, dignity, or respect.

 

 

Pros and Cons 

Con: Kohlberg insinuates that people can place their own moral principles above the laws of the society they live in and the established laws of that country, i.e., it is a “lesser of two evils” theory.

Pro: The Kohlberg moral development theory has a positive effect on educational matters, especially the education of young adults and their sense of intellectual and moral development.

 

Apply to Teaching? 

The Kohlberg moral development theory has a positive effect on educational matters, especially the education of young adults and their sense of intellectual and moral development. Kohlberg’s intention was to enable individuals to understand advanced stages of moral thought, the principles of universal liberty and justice and the need for a sense of order in society. Kohlberg’s belief was that the development of moral thought would help individuals to develop a greater understanding of the norms of society.

 

Classroom Connection 

Kohlberg's theory deals more with the atmosphere of the classroom setting and how the students and the teacher interact with each other in an educational environment. 

 

As children grow, they go through the different levels of moral development and each stage can alter the learning enviroment of the classroom.  

Example

A child growing up in a very moral house might not have known what right or wrong was but they did know that if they hit their siblings, they would be yelled at. Because of the negative consequence, that child didn't last out at their siblings. Whereas at another household, a child who hits their siblings and receives no negative consequences will continue to do it. This impacts the educational atmosphere because a schild who does not receive negative consequences at the home might lat out at the other students at school as they see fit as the result of an argument. 

How does the theory impact how

you think about education? 

This theory allows insights to the challenges I will face, such as differing views on equality, race, money, personal achievement, collectivism, and independence. 

 

It also allows me to view each student in a different light and realize the backgrounds they may come from can effect the way they progress through the moral development levels.