Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral

DevelopmentWhy we make the decisions we

make…

Stage 1 – Reward and Punishment

O Our earliest moral decisions are made on the basis of physical reward or punishment.

O Young children often make decisions in much the same way as animals – they are trained to expect reward or punishment depending on their choice.

Stage 1 ExamplesO I will not take a cookie out of the jar

because I don’t want to get sent to my room without dinner.

O I will make my bed because if I do, I always get a quarter from my parents.

O I will write on the walls with this crayon because nothing bad happens to me even when my parents get angry.

Stage 2 – Quid Pro QuoO Decisions made in this stage are

done through a sense of bartering or negotiation.

O Decision makers no longer simply accept the consequences, but they work to change the consequences before making a decision.

Stage 2 ExamplesO I will clean the basement, but only if

you take me to the mall.

O I will give you the answer to #4 if you let me ask your sister to Homecoming.

O I will be good for the rest of the week if you just buy me that toy right now.

Stage 3 - ConformingO Decision makers act based on the opinions

of the people who matter to them. What do I want others to think about me?

O This is the “good boy” or “nice girl” stage, in which a person wants to protect his image with friends, family or community members.

O Often associated with middle school years

Stage 3 ExamplesO I never swear in front of my grandma

because I want her to think I am a good person.

O I swear when I am with my friends because I want them to think that I am mature and not afraid to break some rules.

O I am always nice to the teacher’s face so that she likes me, but always rip on her when I leave the room so that my friends don’t think I am a “teacher’s pet.”

Stage 4 – Law and Order

O Known as the “duty” stage, this stage is governed by the rules. Decisions are usually made to follow the laws simply because that is what is expected.

O Rules will be broken, but only if the decision maker sees no danger in everyone disregarding the rules. “What would happen if everyone did what I am about to do?”

Stage 4 ExamplesO I drive the speed limit because it is

the law.

O I wear dress code because that is what the school requires.

O I take the little soaps and shampoos from hotels because even if everyone did that, it wouldn’t make much difference to the hotel.

Stage 5 – Social Contract

O A person in stage 5 looks behind the law to see whether the decision is consistent with the values of society.

O Laws may be violated if they are bad laws, if they go against the values of the group (society, Church, etc.)

Stage 5 ExamplesO I will not read your diary because our

family values privacy.

O I will respect your opinion because our society values freedom of opinion and expression.

O I will protest against abortion because killing innocent babies is against our values of respect for life.

Stage 6 – Personal Conscience

O Decisions are made based on universal ethical principles (dignity, justice, respect)

O Regardless of what society thinks, a person in stage6 acts according to her conscience and her understanding of ethical principles.

O People in stage 6 do the right things, unless they misunderstand a situation.

Stage 6 ExamplesO I will help the homeless person

because every human being has basic dignity that should be respected.

O I will not steal because it would be unjust to take something that doesn’t belong to me.

Practice…O Let’s try to show our knowledge with

this practice decision….write down what a person in each stage might choose to do and WHY.

O Decision: To cheat on a final exam

Learning Check…O This time, work on your own to see if

you can apply this idea….write down what a person in each stage might choose to do and WHY.

O Decision: To tell the truth about being late for curfew.