Kohlberg's stages of moral development
Summary
Kohlberg proposed that moral reasoning develops in a fixed order through three levels (preconventional, conventional, postconventional), each with two stages. The most testable point is that the stage is set by the reasoning a person gives, not by whether they judge the act right or wrong.
Detail
Meaning: In Kohlberg's theory, moral reasoning develops in a set sequence as thinking becomes more abstract and takes in wider perspectives. Preconventional level: stage 1, obedience and avoiding punishment; stage 2, self-interest and fair exchange. Conventional level: stage 3, winning approval and keeping relationships; stage 4, obeying laws and maintaining social order. Postconventional level: stage 5, social contract and individual rights; stage 6, universal ethical principles. Not everyone reaches the postconventional level.
On the MCAT: A passage gives the Heinz dilemma (a man considers stealing a drug he cannot afford to save his dying wife) and a reason a person offers. You name the stage. Fear of punishment is stage 1, personal gain is stage 2, being a good spouse or earning approval is stage 3, respecting the law is stage 4, and putting rights or principles above a particular law is stage 5 or 6. Questions may also tie the stages to cognitive development (Piaget) or give Gilligan's criticism that the scheme favors justice over care and relationships.
Common confusion: The stage depends on the reasoning, not the decision. Two people who both steal the drug, or both refuse, can be at different stages, because their justifications differ.
Sources
- Psychology (Myers)
- Development Across the Life Span (Feldman)
- Discovering Psychology (Hockenbury)
Written for the MCAT and checked before it was published. For study reference only. Spotted an error? Let us know.