Kohlberg's stages of moral development describe 6 stages grouped into 3 levels - preconventional, conventional, and postconventional. At the preconventional level, morality is based on obedience and self-interest. The conventional level focuses on maintaining relationships and social order. The postconventional level assesses morality based on individual rights and universal ethical principles. Kohlberg believed people progress sequentially through these stages as their reasoning becomes more sophisticated.

1. KOHLBERG’S STAGES OF MORAL
DEVELOPMENT
Amielyn Cassandra U. Estolano

2. LAWRENCE KOHLBERG

4. LEVEL I: PREMORAL OR
PRECONVENTIONAL MORALITY
• Behavior motivated by anticipation of
pleasure or pain.

5. • STAGE 1: PUNISMENT AND OBIENDIENCE
The earliest stage of moral development is
especially common in young children, but adults are
also capable of expressing this type of reasoning. At
this stage, children see rules as fixed and absolute.
Obeying the rules is important because it is a means
to avoid punishment.

6. • STAGE 2: INDIVIDUALISM AND EXCHANGE
At this stage of moral development, children
account for individual points of view and judge
actions based on how they serve individual needs.
In the Heinz dilemma, children argued that the best
course of action was the choice that best-served
Heinz’s needs. Reciprocity is possible at this point in
moral development, but only if it serves one's own
interests.

7. LEVEL II: CONVENTIONAL MORTALITY
• Acceptance of the rules and standards of one’s
group.

8. • STAGE 3: INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
Often referred to as the "good boy-good girl"
orientation, this stage of moral development is
focused on living up to social expectations and
roles. There is an emphasis on conformity, being
"nice," and consideration of how choices influence
relationships.

9. • STAGE 4: MAINTANING SOCIAL ORDER
At this stage of moral development, people
begin to consider society as a whole when making
judgments. The focus is on maintaining law and
order by following the rules, doing one’s duty and
respecting authority.

10. LEVEL III: POSTCONVENTIONAL OR
PRINCIPLED MORTALITY
• Morality is defined in terms of conformity to
shared standards, rights, or duties apart from
supporting authority. The standards conformed
to are internal, and action-decisions are based on
an inner process of thought and judgement
concerning right and wrong.

11. • STAGE 5: SOCIAL CONTRACT AND INDIVIDUAL
RIGHTS
At this stage, people begin to account for the
differing values, opinions and beliefs of other
people. Rules of law are important for maintaining
a society, but members of the society should agree
upon these standards.

12. • STAGE 6: UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES
Kohlberg’s final level of moral reasoning is based
upon universal ethical principles and abstract
reasoning. At this stage, people follow these
internalized principles of justice, even if they
conflict with laws and rules.

13. REFERENCES:
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ncoverst/Kohlberg's%20Sta
ges%20of%20Moral%20Development.htm
http://psychology.about.com/od/developmentalpsycho
logy/a/kohlberg.htm
http://www.simplypsychology.org/kohlberg.html