Lawrence Kohlberg's Theory Of Moral Developlvle... May 2026

Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, formulated in the mid-20th century, remains a cornerstone of developmental psychology. Building upon Jean Piaget’s work, Kohlberg proposed that moral reasoning—the basis for ethical behavior—evolves through six distinct, universal stages grouped into three levels. This paper explores the structural framework of these stages, the methodology of the "Heinz Dilemma," and critical evaluations of the theory’s cultural and gender-based limitations. I. Introduction

Moral development refers to the process through which individuals develop a sense of right and wrong. Lawrence Kohlberg hypothesized that this development is a product of cognitive growth and social experience. Unlike earlier behavioral theories, Kohlberg’s model focuses on the behind a decision rather than the decision itself. II. Methodology: The Heinz Dilemma LAwRENCE KOHLBERG'S THEORY OF MORAL DEVELOPlvlE...

critiques of kohlberg's model of moral development: a summary The most famous is the

To measure moral development, Kohlberg used hypothetical moral dilemmas. The most famous is the , which asks whether a man should steal an overpriced drug to save his dying wife. Kohlberg was less interested in whether the subject answered "yes" or "no" and more in the rationale provided, which revealed their stage of moral maturity. III. The Three Levels and Six Stages Unlike earlier behavioral theories

Level 1: Pre-Conventional Morality (Common in children under age 9)

Kohlberg’s theory is structured into three levels, each containing two stages. According to ResearchGate , individuals move through these stages in a fixed, invariant order.