1. Kohlberg’s theory on moral development 1. Kohlberg’s research yielded three levels of moral development. Each level includes two stages. For Piaget, children develop intellectually in a hierarchical manner, in four specific stages ranging from infancy to adolescents. Kohlberg’s theory of the six stages of moral development includes three levels of moral reasoning, which are further broken down into six stages. Cognitive in nature, Kohlberg’s theory focuses on the thinking process that occurs when one decides whether a behaviour is right or wrong. Kohlberg's theory of moral development is based on the idea that, as children get older, their reasoning in moral dilemmas develops and becomes more sophisticated. Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development English 10 LEVEL STAGE/CHARACTERISTICS Preconventional At this level individuals obey because authority figures tell them to obey. Level 2: Conventional Morality. Kohlberg believed that individuals progress through stages of moral reasoning in one specific order, without skipping any in between. Not everyone reached the highest stages in Kohlberg's theory. Piaget was the first psychologist to postulate a stage theory of cognitive development. Start studying Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development (adolescence). Lawrence Kohlberg's stages of moral development constitute an adaptation of a psychological theory originally conceived by the Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget. (1985). Kohlberg’s theory states that moral growth begins early in life and continues in stages throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. In this lesson we’re going to talk about moral development based around Lawrence Kohlberg’s theories. Each level is then further sub-divided into two stages to make a total of six stages. Kohlberg began work on this topic while being a psychology graduate student at the University of Chicago in 1958 and expanded upon the theory throughout his life. Punishment & Obedience Compare the work of Kohlberg and Piaget as stage theorists. The second level of morality involves the stages 3 and 4 of moral development. Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development: Kohlberg was interested in the reasons why people made decisions that involved morality. Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development Angela Oswalt Morelli , MSW, edited by C. E. Zupanick, Psy.D. Developed by psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg, this theory made us understand that morality starts from the early childhood years and can be affected by several factors. Lawrence Kohlberg outlined one of the best-known theories addressing the development of morality in childhood. Each level consisted of two stages, leading to six stages in total. Psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg identified three general stages of moral development: preconventional morality, which is common in children; conventional morality, which many adolescents move into; and postconventional morality, which some people never accomplish.