Ged 107:
Ethics
Chapter 9:
Stages of Moral
Development 1
MODULE 9:
STAGES OF MORAL DEVELOPMENT
Introduction
This module aims to discuss comprehensively the six stages of moral development. This
lesson will develop the critical thinking and problem-solving skills of students on real life
scenarios. Further, this lesson will help them to identify which stage of moral development they
reasoning may fall. This will also help them to develop a sense of morality and accountability.
Lastly, this lesson will teach them analyze things and to be selfless.
Learning Objectives
At the end of the topic, students are expected to:
a) Explain each stage of moral development.
b) Determine in which stage of moral development they are now.
c) Apply the stages of moral development.
d) Create chart of their life’s journey.
The Six Stages of Moral Development
Lawrence Kohlberg’s stages of moral development, a comprehensive stage theory of
moral development based on Jean Piaget’s theory of moral judgment for children (1932) and
developed by Lawrence Kohlberg in 1958. Cognitive in nature, Kohlberg’s theory focuses on the
thinking process that occurs when one decides whether a behaviour is right or wrong. Thus, the
theoretical emphasis is on how one decides to respond to a moral dilemma, not what one decides
or what one actually does (Sanders, n.d.). Piaget described a two-stage process of moral
development (Scott, & Cogburn, 2020). Kohlberg extended Piaget's theory, proposing that moral
development is a continual process that occurs throughout the lifespan. His theory outlines six
stages of moral development within three different levels.
2
The Heinz Dilemma
Kohlberg based his theory on a series of moral dilemmas presented to his study subjects.
Participants were also interviewed to determine the reasoning behind their judgments of each
scenario (American Psychological Association, 2018).
One example was "Heinz Steals the Drug." In this scenario, a woman has cancer and her
doctors believe only one drug might save her. This drug had been discovered by a local pharmacist
and he was able to make it for $200 per dose and sell it for $2,000 per dose. The woman's husband,
Heinz, could only raise $1,000 to buy the [Link] tried to negotiate with the pharmacist for a lower
price or to be extended credit to pay for it over time. But the pharmacist refused to sell it for any
less or to accept partial payments. Rebuffed, Heinz instead broke into the pharmacy and stole the
drug to save his wife. Kohlberg asked, "Should the husband have done that?"
Kohlberg was not interested so much in the answer to whether Heinz was wrong or right but
in the reasoning for each participant's decision. He then classified their reasoning into the stages
of his theory of moral development (American Psychological Association, 2018).
Theoretical Framework
The framework of Kohlberg’s theory consists of six stages arranged sequentially in
successive tiers of complexity. He organized his six stages into three general levels of moral
development (Sanders, n.d.).
Level 1: Preconventional level
At the preconventional level, morality is externally controlled. Rules imposed by authority figures
are conformed to in order to avoid punishment or receive rewards. This perspective involves the
idea that what is right is what one can get away with or what is personally satisfying. Level 1 has
two stages.
3
Stage 1: Punishment/obedience orientation
Behaviour is determined by consequences. The individual will obey in order to avoid
punishment.
Stage 2: Instrumental purpose orientation
Behaviour is determined again by consequences. The individual focuses on receiving
rewards or satisfying personal needs.
Level 2: Conventional level
At the conventional level, conformity to social rules remains important to the individual. However,
the emphasis shifts from self-interest to relationships with other people and social systems. The
individual strives to support rules that are set forth by others such as parents, peers, and the
government in order to win their approval or to maintain social order.
Stage 3: Good Boy/Nice Girl orientation
Behaviour is determined by social approval. The individual wants to maintain or win the affection
and approval of others by being a “good person.”
Stage 4: Law and order orientation
Social rules and laws determine behaviour. The individual now takes into consideration a larger
perspective, that of societal laws. Moral decision making becomes more than consideration of
close ties to others. The individual believes that rules and laws maintain social order that is worth
preserving.
Level 3: Postconventional or principled level
At the postconventional level, the individual moves beyond the perspective of his or her own
society. Morality is defined in terms of abstract principles and values that apply to all situations
and societies. The individual attempts to take the perspective of all individuals.
Stage 5: Social contract orientation
Individual rights determine behaviour. The individual views laws and rules as flexible tools for
4
improving human purposes. That is, given the right situation, there are exceptions to rules. When
laws are not consistent with individual rights and the interests of the majority,they do not bring
about good for people and alternatives should be considered.
Stage 6: Universal ethical principle orientation
According to Kohlberg, this is the highest stage of functioning. However, he claimed that some
individuals will never reach this level. At this stage, the appropriate action is determined by one’s
self-chosen ethical principles of conscience. These principles are abstract and universal in
application. This type of reasoning involves taking the perspectiveof every person or group that
could potentially be affected by the decision.
Kohlberg’s theory was highly influential, especially in psychology and education. No otheraccount
had provided such a detailed explanation of children’s moral development. Moreover, during a
time when most psychologists were behaviorists, Kohlberg’s work broke new ground by
concentrating on cognitive phenomena. His theory also received much criticism, however, most
notably from the American psychologist Carol Gilligan, who argued that it ignored the distinct
patterns of moral development exhibited by girls (Doorey, 2020).
Learning Activity:
Draw a chart of their life’s journey using Manila paper or power point presentation or
any computer applications applicable in this activity. The output will show moments of your
life and where you are now based on moral development.
Learning Assessment
Directions: Each group will identify the stages of the agents in each case and justify their answer.
o There are people suggesting that the Local Government Units shall disclose the
personal details of patients with covid-19 so that they know if they had contacted that
person days before the result of RT-PCR Test and also to protect their family’s health.
However, there is a law which protects each covid-19 patient from discrimination.
5
Analyze the act of those people and which stage of moral development their moral
reasoning may fall.
o A mother of two wrote a letter to the Elementary Principal. She requested that junk
foods and soda should be banned in their school canteen. Her youngest son was
hospitalized forseveral months due to kidney failure and needed to file leave of absence
for early [Link] reason of writing a letter was not only for the welfare of his son
but also for the welfare of all students in the school. However, the canteen was
cooperative store where all teachersand some parents have shares and receive dividend
every year. Part of their dividend is allotted to feeding program of the school where
majority of the students benefitted. Whichdo you think needs to be addressed and why?
o A scientist was alarmed on the continuous destruction of mother earth. Bodies of water
arepolluted, there are massive destruction of forests and there are animals which are
now extinct. There are numerous natural disasters happening all over the world in a
year and many lives are already gone. To save the mother earth, he made a virus that
will control population. For him, controlling population will save the earth. Which
moral reasoning a scientist’s behavior may fall? Do you think his action is morally
right? Justify it using moral stages of development.
Learning References
• Doorey, M. (2020). Lawrence Kohlberg. Accessed August 8,
2020[Link]
• Scott H, & Cogburn M. Piaget. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing, updated
May24, 2020.
• American Psychological Association. Heinz dilemma. Published 2018.
• American Psychological Association. Kohlberg's theory of moral development.
Published2018.
• Sanders, C. E. Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development. Accessed July 28,
2020 t[Link]
development