Moral Development

Lawrence Kohlberg, like Piaget, did research and reported his findings into categories based upon ages of children. Again, like Piaget, this is Kohlberg's theory and there is not a fixed pattern on development. Kohlberg came up with how children develop morally.. You will read about three of his stages. Please keep in mind that he has many subcategories. View a chart of Kohlberg's levels of moral development.

Level and Age

Characteristics

Preconventional level (younger than age six)
  • Adults impose their wisdom on children
  • Children do not grasp the idea of what is right and what is wrong unless they are punished or rewarded

Conventional Level (seven to 11 years)
  • The expectations of others is the motivating factor in doing “right” or “wrong”
  • "Intentions" become important to determine if a person meant to do something or not
  • Many people do not make it out of this stage as pleasing others or doing something because it is right or wrong is the way many people think

Postconventional Level (11 years and beyond)
  • Small amount of people make it to this stage of moral development
  • Behavior based upon what you feel is morally right

 Lawrence Kohlberg A developmental psychologist who theorized that people enter into three stages of cognitive development called moral development.

Morally: Relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior

Preconventional Level

After a shipwreck, 11 people are in a life boat. You are able to save one wealthy person or the remaining 10 people. Who would you save and why?

I would save the rich one so he would give me a reward.

Conventional Level

After a shipwreck, 11 people are in a life boat. You are able to save one wealthy person or the remaining 10 people. Who would you save and why?

I would have a hard time answering unless I know what the group wants.

Postconventional Level

After a shipwreck, 11 people are in a life boat. You are able to save one wealthy person or the remaining 10 people. Who would you save and why?

The 10 poor people because human life has value despite the fact you have money or not