STAGES OF MORAL
DEVELOPMENT
What is Moral Development?
• Moral development is the process by which
people develop the distinction between
right and wrong (morality) and engage in
reasoning between the two (moral
reasoning).
How do people develop morality?
Do parental or societal influences play a
greater role in moral development? Do
all kids develop morality in similar
ways?
Lawrence Kohlberg
1927-1987
- American Psychologist
- He received his Ph.D. in
psychology from the
University of Chicago in
1958
- His life was devoted to
the exploration of moral
and ethical development
in young people.
HEINZ DILEMMA
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral
Development
Kohlberg’s theory focuses on how children develop morality and
moral reasoning. Kohlberg’s theory suggests that moral development
occurs in a series of six stages. The theory also suggests that moral
logic primarily focuses on seeking and maintaining justice.
LEVEL 1: Pre Conventional Level
Rules Imposed by authority figures are conformed to in order
to avoid punishment or receive rewards.
Stage 1: Punishment/obedience orientation- The individual will
obey in order.
Stage 2: Instrumental purpose orientation- The individual
focuses on receiving rewards or satisfying personal needs.
OPERANT CONDITIONING
1. Positive Reinforcement- Adding liked
• REINFORCEMENT- stimulus after the behavior is elicited for the
Strengthening or behavior to occur again in the future.
decreasing of behavior in 2. Negative Reinforcement- taking away an
the same scenario in the aversive stimulus after the behavior for the
behavior to occur again in the future.
future. 3. Positive Punishment- Adding an aversive
stimulus after the behavior for the behavior
to decrease in the future.
• PUNISHMENT- Weakening 4. Negative Punishment- also known as
or decreasing of behavior in Reduction punishment wherein we take
the same scenario in the away liked stimulus after the behavior for
the behavior to decrease in the future.
future.
Level 2: Conventional level
The individual strives to support rules that are set forth by
others such as parents, peers, and the government.
Stage 3: Good boy/Nice Girl Orientation- behavior is
determined by social approval.
Stage 4: Law and order orientation- Individual believes
that rules and laws maintain social order that is worth
preserving.
Level 3: Post-conventional or
principled level
The individual moves beyond the perspective of his or her own
society.
Stage 5: Social contract orientation- Individual rights determine
behavior. Individual views laws and rules as flexible tools for
improving human purposes.
Stage 6: Universal ethical principle orientation- The highest stage of
functioning. Some individuals will never reach this level.
Appropriate actions is determined by one’s self-chosen ethical
principles of conscience.
Arguments about Kohlberg’s Theory
Kohlberg: more males than females moves past stage four in
the moral development; women are deficient in their moral
reasoning.
Carol Gilligan: Kohlberg’s theory was based only on upper
class white men and boys; women are not deficient in moral
reasoning- males and females reason differently.
Understanding Moral Development
HEINZ DILEMMA
Pre Conventional Stage
Conventional Stage
Post Conventional Stage
Activity
[Link] Heinz steal the drug? Why or why not?
[Link] Heinz doesn't love his wife, should he steal the drug for her? Why or why not?
[Link] the person dying is not his wife but a stranger. Should Heinz steal the
drug for a stranger? Why or why not?
4. Suppose it is a pet animal he loves. Should Heinz steal to save the pet animal?
Why or why not?
5. Why should people do everything they can to save another's life?
6. It is against the law for Heinz to steal? Does that make it morally wrong? Why
or why not?
7. Why should people generally do everything they can to avoid breaking the
law? How does this relate to Heinz's case?
