Worldview LensMoral Development: Kohlberg
Six stages of moral reasoning in three levels: preconventional, conventional, and postconventional.
The stages, earliest to latest
- Obedience & punishment 1Right is what avoids punishment by authority.
- Self-interest & exchange 2Right is what serves my interests; fair deals and reciprocity.
- Interpersonal conformity 3Right is being a good person in others' eyes; loyalty, trust, caring within relationships.
- Law & social order 4Right is upholding laws and duties that maintain social order.
- Social contract & rights 5Laws are social contracts serving welfare and rights; can be changed democratically.
- Universal ethical principles 6Self-chosen universal principles of justice and dignity, even against law.
Sources
- Kohlberg, L. (1981). Essays on Moral Development, Vol. I: The Philosophy of Moral Development.
- Colby, A., & Kohlberg, L. (1987). The Measurement of Moral Judgment.
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