LAURENCE KOHLBERG: MORAL DEVELOPMENT THEORY

Question 1

Level ____ (_____________ ________)

—Children’s judgments are based on external criteria.
Standards of right and wrong are absolute and laid down by authority.

Answer 1

LEVEL ONE: PRE-CONVENTIONAL MORALITY

Question 2

Behavior is based on the desire to avoid severe physical punishment by a superior power.
—Right or wrong is based on consequences to him.
—Punishment = wrong act

Answer 2

STAGE 1: Level One (Preconventional Morality)

Question 3

Children’s judgments are based on the norms and expectation of the group.

Answer 3

LEVEL 2 (CONVENTIONAL MORALITY)

Question 4

Actions are based largely on satisfying one’s own personal needs.

Answer 4

STAGE 2: CONVENTIONAL MORALITY

Question 5

Good behavior is that which pleases others and judgments are based on intentions.
—Children conform to rules to win the approval of others and to maintain good relationships.

Answer 5

STAGE 3: CONVENTIONAL MORALITY

Question 6

What is right is what is accepted.
— If the social accepts rules as appropriate for all group members, children will
conform to them to avoid social disapproval and censure

Answer 6

STAGE 4: CONVENTIONAL MORALITY

Question 7

Level _____ (_______________ Morality)
—The individual recognizes the arbitrariness of social and legal conventions.
—The individual attempts to define moral values that are separate from group
norms.

Answer 7

LEVEL 3: POST CONVENTIONAL MORALITY

Question 8

Behavior recognizes the laws as arbitrary and changeable.
—For aspects of life not governed by laws, right and wrong are personal
decisions based on agreement and contracts.

Answer 8

STAGE 5: POST CONVENTIONAL MORALITY

Question 9

Morality is based on respect for others rather than on personal desires.
—The individual conforms to both social standards and to internalized ideals to avoid self-condemnation rather than to avoid social censure.

Answer 9

STAGE 6: POST CONVENTIONAL MORALITY