Stages of moral development according to kohlberg summary at stage 1 children think of what is right as that which authority says is right. Using this method, piaget described two stages of moral development. Kohlbergs stages of moral development the psychology. Doing the right thing is obeying authority and avoiding punishment. Kohlberg defined three levels of moral development.
Kohlberg believed that moral development, like cognitive development, follows a series of stages. According to the theory, moral reasoning develops in six stages, each more adequate at responding to moral dilemmas than the one before. Piaget observed four stages in the childs development of moral understanding of rules, based largely on his observation of childrens games. Based on piagets theory of cognitive development, american psychologist lawrence kohlberg 19271987 developed his own theory of moral development in children. Kohlbergs stages of moral development child development. Moral development and the social environment universitat konstanz. Kohlberg identified three distinct levels of moral reasoning. Each new stage replaces the reasoning typical of the earlier stage. Before 7 8 years of age, children are at the first stage of morality. In each case, he presented a choice to be considered, for example, between the rights of some authority and the needs of some deserving individual who is being unfairly. His theory was inspired by the research of jean piaget and has changed the way sociologists and psychologists look at moral development.
Kohlberg has focused on moral development and has proposed a stage theory of moral thinking which goes well beyond piagets initial formulations. Kohlberg developed his six stage theory on moral development while working on his doctorate degree. Stages of moral development notes semantic scholar. He used the idea of moral dilemmasstories that present conflicting ideas about two moral valuesto teach 10 to 16 yearold boys about morality and values. Lawrence kohlberg 1958 agreed with piagets 1932 theory of moral development in principle but wanted to develop his ideas further he used piagets storytelling technique to tell people stories involving moral dilemmas.
In cognitivedevelopmental theory, the cognitivestructural aspect of moral judgment and the stage scheme of moral development assume the position of core. According to kohlberg s theory of moral development, there are 6 stages of moral development, known as kohlberg s stages of moral development. Piaget, kohlberg, gilligan, and others on moral development. Kohlberg s theory of moral development english 10 level stage characteristics preconventional at this level individuals obey because authority figures tell them to obey. These people judge morality strictly on the basis of consequences fear of being punished for bad actions, reward for good actions. Lawrence kohlberg expanded on the earlier work of cognitive theorist jean piaget to explain the moral development of children. Kohlbergs stages of moral development simply psychology. At stage 2, children are no longer so impressed by any single authority. Kohlberg, who was born in 1927, grew up in bronxville, new york, and attended the andover academy in massachusetts, a private high school for bright and usually wealthy students. Cognitive in nature, kohlberg s theory focuses on the thinking process that occurs when one decides whether a behaviour is right or wrong. Lawrence kohlbergs six stages of moral development. Lawrence kohlberg s stages of moral development, a comprehensive stage theory of moral development based on jean piagets theory of moral judgment for children 1932 and developed by lawrence kohlberg in 1958. Stages of moral development, comprehensive theory developed by lawrence kohlberg in 1958 based on jean piagets theory of moral judgment.