Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

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Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

This web page is about Lawrence Kohlberg and his Theory of Moral Development. It gives the definition of morality, a biography of Kohlberg, the levels of Kohlberg's theory, and the pro's and con's to his theory.

Lawrence Kohlberg spent years researching how an individual develops their own moral codes. He studied the differences in children's reasoning about moral dilemmas. He also helped to clarify the general cognitive-development view of age-related changes. Kohlberg applied the developmental approach of Piaget to the analysis of changes in moral reasoning. He used surveys as his main source for research. He presented children with moral dilemmas and asked them to evaluate the moral conflict, he studied how the different children responded to these dilemmas.

The web page talks about the levels of Kohlberg's theory. His theory was created based on the idea that stages of moral development build on each other in order of importance and significance to the person. Each stage depends on the other. There are three levels and each level consist of two sequential stages.

Level 1: Preconventional Morality (ages 4-10)

- Moral value resides in a person's own needs and wants.

Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation. Person's moral judgement is motivated by a need to avoid punishment.

Stage 2: Instructional-Relativist Orientation. Person's moral judgement is motivated by a need to satisfy own desires.

Level 2: Conventional Morality (ages 10-13)

- Moral values reside in performing good or right roles, and in pleasing others.

Stage 3: "Good Boy/Nice Girl" Orientation. Individuals moral judgement is motivated by a need to avoid rejection, or disapproval.

Stage 4: Law and Order Orientation. Persons moral judgement is motivated by a need to not be criticized by a true authority figure.

Level 3: Postconventional Morality (adolescence-adulthood)

- Moral values reside in principles, seperstae from those who enforce them. Most people never reach this last level

Stage 5: Legalistic Orientation. Individuals moral judgement is motivated by community respect for all, respecting social order, and living under laws.

Stage 6: Universal, Ethical Orientation. Individuals moral judgement by ones own conscience.

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