Kohlberg's Moral Development

Question 1

What are the three levels of moral development?

Answer 1

Preconventional, Conventional, & Post-Conventional

Question 2

Stage 1

Answer 2

Makes moral judgement off of obedience & fear of punishment

How can I avoid punishment?

Question 3

Stage 2

Answer 3

Motivated by self-interest

What’s in it for me?

Question 4

Stage 3

Answer 4

Interpersonal accords & conformity
Makes decisions based of others. Wants people to view them as conforming to society.
What do other’s think of me?

Question 5

Stage 4

Answer 5

Value authority and want to maintain social order; important to value the rules.
How can I maintain law & order?

Question 6

Stage 5

Answer 6

Understand rules as a social contract. Rules make sense only if they serve the right purpose.
Does a rule truly serve all members of the community?

Question 7

Stage 6

Answer 7

Guided by universal ethical principles
Explains the importance of rules, commitment to justice (obligation to disobey unjust rules; compassion)
- should see alls perspective
What are the abstract ethical principles that serve my understanding of justice?

Question 8

What is the pre-conventional level driven by?

Answer 8

Driven by fear and self-interest - judge by consequence for themselves not by social norms

Question 9

What is the conventional level driven by?

Answer 9

Morality centered around what society seeks as right. Fairness of rules seldom questioned

Question 10

What is the post-conventional level driven by?

Answer 10

Individuals may disobey rules inconsistent with their own morality. Universal ethical idea - complete disconnect from what society thinks on rules
- everything solved by compassion