Kohlberg's theory of moral development proposes that morality develops through three levels - preconventional, conventional, and post-conventional. At the preconventional level, children's judgments are based on external consequences like punishment. At the conventional level, judgments are based on social norms and expectations. At the post-conventional level, individuals recognize morality as separate from social conventions and base right and wrong on respect for others and internal ideals. Kohlberg proposed six stages across these three levels to describe how morality develops from a concern with obedience and self-interest to social order and finally to abstract ethical principles.

1. Kohlberg Theory of
Moral Development

2. Developmental Psychology
• Study of how children
develop a set of values or
principles regarding
correct, appropriate or
good behavior.

3. Laurence Kohlberg
• Proposed one of the widely
acceptable explanations
about development of
morality.

4. Level 1 (Preconventional Morality)
• Children judgments are
based in external criteria.
Standards of right and
wrong are absolute and
laid down by authority.

5. •Stage 1: Behavior are
based on the desire to
avoid severe physical
punishments by a
superior power.
.

6. • Judgment about what is
right or wrong is based on
consequences to him. If
an act incurs punishment,
then it is wrong.

7. Level 2 (Conventional Morality)
• Children judgment are based on
the norms and expectations of
the group.
• Stage 2: Actions are based
largely on satisfying one’s
own personal needs. The
child will help someone else,
if that person will help him
in return.

8. • Stage 3: Good behavior is
that which pleases others
and judgment are based on
intensions . Children conform
to rules to win approval of
others to maintain good
relationship.

9. • Stage 4: What is right is what
accepted. If the social groups
accept rules as appropriate for
all members, children will
conform to them to avoid
social disapproval or censure.

10. Level 3 (Post Conventional
Morality
• The individual recognizes
arbitrariness of social and
legal conventions, the
individual attempts to define
moral values that are
separate from norms groups.

11. • Stage 5: Behavior recognizes
the laws as arbitrary and
changeable. For aspects of
life not govern by laws, right
and wrong are personal
decisions based on the
agreements and contract.

12. –Stage 6: Morality is based on
respect for others rather
than on personal desires. The
individual conforms to both
social standards and to
internalized ideals to avoid
self condemnation rather than
avoid social censure.

13. Thank you for
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