How to Grasp Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Reasoning

Morally developed people do not engage in acts like bullying.

Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral reasoning can teach us a lot about how we learn right from wrong. According to Kohlberg, people learn morality in six distinct stages. These stages are grouped into three levels: pre-conventional morality, conventional morality and post-conventional morality. To grasp Kohlberg's stages of moral reasoning, you must first have an understanding of basic psychological jargon, since Kohlberg's theory presupposes a certain amount of familiarity with technical terminology.

Instructions

1. Take notes on the levels in Kohlberg's theory. Write out each level of moral development, and write a description of each level. Pre-conventional morality is based on punishment and reward. Conventional morality is based on acceptance of social norms. Post-conventional morality is based on genuine convictions. Read Kohlberg's book "Moral Stages" for his own thoughts on these subjects.

2. Take notes on the stages in each level of Kohlberg's theory. The first pre-conventional stage is obedience and punishment, in which the child assumes that authorities set moral law. The second pre-conventional stage is individualism and escape, in which the child realizes that different people have different moral viewpoints. The first conventional stage is interpersonal relationships, in which the child sees himself as having duties to family and friends. The second conventional stage is similar to the first stage, but concerned with society as a whole. The post conventional stages are concerned with individual rights and universal principles.

3. Ask people you know for their opinions on a moral question, such as "is it ever right to lie?" Ask people of different age groups, and make a mental note of their answers. Compare young people's answers with older people's answers. Compare your observations with the observations from the theory.

4. Take notes on competing theories. Jean Piaget's theory says that children develop from a superstitious thinking style to a rational thinking style. Domain theory refutes the idea that people develop morality in stages, instead viewing morality as socially conditioned. Carol Gilligan's theory states that women and men develop differently, with women developing a sense of compassion and men developing a sense of individual rights. Note the differences between these theories and Kohlberg's theories.

5. Re-read your notes on Kohlberg's stages of moral reasoning. Compare these to (A) your observations of people in real life, and (B) your notes on alternative theories of moral development. Decide whether you think Kohlberg's theory is the best. Write a 300-500 word explanation of why you do or do not think Kohlberg's theory is the best theory on moral development.

References

• "Theories of Development"; Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development; W.C. Crain; 1985
• "Character Education"; The Stages of Moral Reasoning: Preschool to Adulthood; Thomas Lickona
• University of Illinois at Chicago: Moral Development and Moral Education