Kohlberg's 3 levels of moral development
An outstanding example of research following the Piagetian theory is the work of Lawrence Kohlberg. Kohlberg focused on moral development and proposed a stage theory of moral thinking that is right on target and helps explain why some people have higher moral and ethical standards than others and why some people do what they do!
Pre-Conventional Morality
(typical of children and adults in prison)
First stage: Obedience and Punishment Orientation. Personal Survival - "Me against the world" - No altruism at all. They behave like an animal in the wild and lack social skills and take what they need without consideration of others' needs or emotions. They lack empathy, fear, guilt, or shame.
Second stage: Individualism and Exchange. "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours". You recognize that others can help you and that you must return the favor! No empathy or altruism.
Conventional Morality
(typical of law enforcement types & religious people)
Third stage: Good Interpersonal Relationships. This is black and white there is no grey area. Behavior is dictated by whether it is seen as good or bad depending upon whether it conforms to or goes against some learned doctrine of acceptable behavior. (Typical of many religious fundamentalists and peer pressure). Any altruism is only seeking the approval of others. Frequently making choices based on fear, guilt, and shame.
Fourth stage: Maintaining the Social Order. Law & Order. Recognition that behavior needs to conform to man-made written laws. The Law is the final arbiter and is seen as something that should be obeyed without question. Any altruism is seen as a responsibility (like tithing).
Post-Conventional Morality Levels
(higher thinkers and doers - the glue of our society - few adults get to this stage)
Fifth stage: Social Contract and Individual Rights. The Social Contract. Recognition that laws exist for the common good, but that these laws were written by men and must not be viewed as applying in every case. There is a genuine interest in the welfare of others and the concept of justice. Altruistic.
Sixth stage: Universal Principles. Recognition of Universal Principles. The individual fully realizes that there is a "higher law" to which we are all subject. The individual's highly evolved conscience is the sole basis for behavior. Most behaviors are for the benefit of others. These people are willing to risk their lives for others. These people are capable of entertaining a thought without accepting it. They can go beyond the social programming, requiring individuals to discover for themselves the "higher morality". Make choices based on love, not fear, guilt or shame.
Kohlberg believed that every individual falls into one category no matter which role they are playing, wife, husband, father, son, friend, employee, employer... Each person must go through each stage in order to get to the next stage unless they had a near-death experience or other major life events take place. Most people reach higher levels when they interact with people with higher levels. According to Kohlberg, children usually develop through stages 1 & 2 and settle into 3 & 4. A minority of adults pass into the higher stages 5 & 6.
Sources: books/interent & http://faculty.plts.edu/gpence/html/kohlberg.htm
Pre-Conventional Morality
(typical of children and adults in prison)
First stage: Obedience and Punishment Orientation. Personal Survival - "Me against the world" - No altruism at all. They behave like an animal in the wild and lack social skills and take what they need without consideration of others' needs or emotions. They lack empathy, fear, guilt, or shame.
Second stage: Individualism and Exchange. "You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours". You recognize that others can help you and that you must return the favor! No empathy or altruism.
Conventional Morality
(typical of law enforcement types & religious people)
Third stage: Good Interpersonal Relationships. This is black and white there is no grey area. Behavior is dictated by whether it is seen as good or bad depending upon whether it conforms to or goes against some learned doctrine of acceptable behavior. (Typical of many religious fundamentalists and peer pressure). Any altruism is only seeking the approval of others. Frequently making choices based on fear, guilt, and shame.
Fourth stage: Maintaining the Social Order. Law & Order. Recognition that behavior needs to conform to man-made written laws. The Law is the final arbiter and is seen as something that should be obeyed without question. Any altruism is seen as a responsibility (like tithing).
Post-Conventional Morality Levels
(higher thinkers and doers - the glue of our society - few adults get to this stage)
Fifth stage: Social Contract and Individual Rights. The Social Contract. Recognition that laws exist for the common good, but that these laws were written by men and must not be viewed as applying in every case. There is a genuine interest in the welfare of others and the concept of justice. Altruistic.
Sixth stage: Universal Principles. Recognition of Universal Principles. The individual fully realizes that there is a "higher law" to which we are all subject. The individual's highly evolved conscience is the sole basis for behavior. Most behaviors are for the benefit of others. These people are willing to risk their lives for others. These people are capable of entertaining a thought without accepting it. They can go beyond the social programming, requiring individuals to discover for themselves the "higher morality". Make choices based on love, not fear, guilt or shame.
Kohlberg believed that every individual falls into one category no matter which role they are playing, wife, husband, father, son, friend, employee, employer... Each person must go through each stage in order to get to the next stage unless they had a near-death experience or other major life events take place. Most people reach higher levels when they interact with people with higher levels. According to Kohlberg, children usually develop through stages 1 & 2 and settle into 3 & 4. A minority of adults pass into the higher stages 5 & 6.
Sources: books/interent & http://faculty.plts.edu/gpence/html/kohlberg.htm
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