Kohlberg's stages of moral development

1. KOHLBERG’S STAGES OF MORAL
DEVELOPMENT

2. LAWRENCE KOHLBERG
 Known for his theory of moral
development which was influenced
by Piaget and Dewey.
 Interested in studying the
development of moral reasoning.

3. LAWRENCE KOHLBERG
(Kolberg Dilemmas), a moral
dilemmas utilized by Kolberg to
analyzed the moral reasoning behind
the responses

4. KOHLBERG DILEMMAS
Sample:
Joe is a fourteen-year-old boy who wanted to go to camp
very much. His father promised him he could go if he saved
up the money for it himself. So Joe worked hard at his
paper route and saved up the forty dollars it cost to go to
camp, and a little more besides. But just before camp was
going to start, his father changed his mind. Some of his
friends decided to go on a special fishing trip, and Joe's
father was short of the money it would cost. So he told Joe
to give him the money he had saved from the paper route.
Joe didn't want to give up going to camp, so he thinks of
refusing to give his father the money.

5. KOHLBERG DILEMMAS
1. Should Joe refuse to give his father the money?1a. Why or why not?
2. Does the father have the right to tell Joe to give him the money?
2a. Why or why not?
3. Does giving the money have anything to do with being a good son?
3a. Why or why not?
4. Is the fact that Joe earned the money himself important in this
situation?
4a. Why or why not?
5. The father promised Joe he could go to camp if he earned the money.
Is the fact that the father promised the most important thing in the
situation?
5a. Why or why not?

6. KOHLBERG DILEMMAS
6. In general, why should a promise kept?
7. Is it important to keep a promise to someone you don't know well and
probably won't see again?
7a. Why or why not?
8. What do you think is the most important thing a father should be
concerned about in his relationship to his son?
8a. Why is that the most important thing?
9. In general, what should be the authority of a father over his son?
9a. Why?
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7. KOHLBERG DILEMMAS
10. What do you think is the most important thing a son should be
concerned about in his relationship to his father?
10a. Why is that the most important thing?
11. In thinking back over the dilemma, what would you say is the most
responsible thing for Joe to do in this situation?
11a. Why?

8. From his research, Kolberg identified
six stage of moral reasoning grouped
into 3 major level. Each level
represents a significant change in the
social-moral reasoning or perspective
of the person.

9. Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development
Level Stage Description
Preconventional Level
1 Punishment / Obedience
2 Mutual Benefit
Conventional
3 Social Approval
4 Law and Order
Post – Conventional
5 Social Contract
6 Universal Principle

10. Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development
Level Stage Description
Preconventional Level
Moral reasoning is based
on consequences or
result of the act, not on
the whether the act itself
is good or bad
1
Punishment / Obedience.
One motivated by fear of
punishment. He will act in order to
avoid punishment
2
Mutual Benefit.
One is motivated to act by the
benefit that one may obtain later.
You scratch my back, I’ll scratch
yours.

11. Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development
Level Stage Description
Conventional Level
Moral reasoning is based
on the conventions or
“norms” of society. This
may include approval of
other, law and order
3
Social Approval.
One is motivated by what others
expect in behavior.
4
Law and Order.
One is motivated to act in orer to
uphold law and order.

12. Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development
Level Stage Description
Post- conventional
Level
Moral reasoning is based
on enduring or consistent
principles. It is not just
recognizing the law, but
the principle behind the
law
5
Social Contract.
Laws that are wrong can be
changed. One will act based on
social justice and the common
good.
6
Universal Principles.
This is associated with the
development of one conscience.

13. Application:
I. Identify the stage of moral development shown in the following.
1. Joy allows her classmates to copy her homework so that they will
think she is kind and will like her to be their friend
2. Ricky does everything to get passing grades because his Mom
will take his play station away if he gets bad grades.
3. A civic action group protest the use of pills for family planning,
saying that although the government allows this, it is actually
murder because the pills are abortifacient.
4. Jinky lets Hannah copy during their math test because Hannah
agreed to let her copy during their sibika test.
5. Karen decided to return the wallet he found in the canteen so that
people will praise her honesty and think she’s such a nice girl.

14. Application:
6. John decided to return the wallet he found in the canteen because
he believes it’s the right thing to do.
7. Lyka wears her ID inside the campus because she likes to follow
the school rules and regulation.
8. A jeepney driver looks if there’s a policeman around before he u-
turns in a no u-turn spot.
9. Liza volunteers to tutor children at-risk children in her
community for free so they will learn to love school and stay in
school.
10. Little Riel behaves so well to get a star stamp from her teacher.

15. End…..