Kohlberg's theory of Moral Development is an adaptation of the original by Jean Piaget. It has three levels with two stages in each.
Preconventional Morality – before the age of 9
Stage One: Obedience and Punishment
· Child does things to avoid punishment or to be rewarded
· Little to no independent thinking
Stage Two: Individualism and Exchange
· Focused only on self-interest while having awareness of others’ different views
Conventional Morality – early adolescence
Stage Three: Maintaining Personal Relationships
· Focused on being nice to others and gaining the approval of others
Stage Four: Law and Order
· Focused on obeying the laws, believe it is morally wrong to break them
· Believes law adds to human life
Postconventional Morality – late adolescence
Stage Five: Social Contract
· People begin to focus on what is best for the society
· Respect individual rights
Stage Six: Universal Principles
· Begin to make their own opinions about the law and disobey them
· Focused on ethical principles and what is internally “right”
Stage One: Obedience and Punishment
· Child does things to avoid punishment or to be rewarded
· Little to no independent thinking
Stage Two: Individualism and Exchange
· Focused only on self-interest while having awareness of others’ different views
Conventional Morality – early adolescence
Stage Three: Maintaining Personal Relationships
· Focused on being nice to others and gaining the approval of others
Stage Four: Law and Order
· Focused on obeying the laws, believe it is morally wrong to break them
· Believes law adds to human life
Postconventional Morality – late adolescence
Stage Five: Social Contract
· People begin to focus on what is best for the society
· Respect individual rights
Stage Six: Universal Principles
· Begin to make their own opinions about the law and disobey them
· Focused on ethical principles and what is internally “right”