Kohlberg’s Stages of
Moral Development
Why we make the decisions we make…
Stage 1 – Reward and
Punishment
O Our earliest moral decisions are made on
the basis of physical reward or punishment.
O Young children often make decisions in
much the same way as animals – they are
trained to expect reward or punishment
depending on their choice.
Stage 1 Examples
O I will not take a cookie out of the jar because I
don’t want to get sent to my room without
dinner.
O I will make my bed because if I do, I always get a
quarter from my parents.
O I will write on the walls with this crayon because
nothing bad happens to me even when my
parents get angry.
Stage 2 – Quid Pro Quo
O Decisions made in this stage are done
through a sense of bartering or negotiation.
O Decision makers no longer simply accept the
consequences, but they work to change the
consequences before making a decision.
Stage 2 Examples
O I will clean the basement, but only if you
take me to the mall.
O I will give you the answer to #4 if you let me
ask your sister to Homecoming.
O I will be good for the rest of the week if you
just buy me that toy right now.
Stage 3 - Conforming
O Decision makers act based on the opinions
of the people who matter to them. What do I
want others to think about me?
O This is the “good boy” or “nice girl” stage, in
which a person wants to protect his image
with friends, family or community members.
O Often associated with middle school years
Stage 3 Examples
O I never swear in front of my grandma
because I want her to think I am a good
person.
O I swear when I am with my friends because I
want them to think that I am mature and not
afraid to break some rules.
O I am always nice to the teacher’s face so
that she likes me, but always rip on her
when I leave the room so that my friends
don’t think I am a “teacher’s pet.”
Stage 4 – Law and Order
O Known as the “duty” stage, this stage is
governed by the rules. Decisions are usually
made to follow the laws simply because that
is what is expected.
O Rules will be broken, but only if the decision
maker sees no danger in everyone
disregarding the rules. “What would happen
if everyone did what I am about to do?”
Stage 4 Examples
O I drive the speed limit because it is the law.
O I wear dress code because that is what the
school requires.
O I take the little soaps and shampoos from
hotels because even if everyone did that, it
wouldn’t make much difference to the hotel.
Stage 5 – Social Contract
O A person in stage 5 looks behind the law to
see whether the decision is consistent with
the values of society.
O Laws may be violated if they are bad laws, if
they go against the values of the group
(society, Church, etc.)
Stage 5 Examples
O I will not read your diary because our family
values privacy.
O I will respect your opinion because our society
values freedom of opinion and expression.
O I will protest against abortion because killing
innocent babies is against our values of respect
for life.
Stage 6 – Personal Conscience
O Decisions are made based on universal
ethical principles (dignity, justice, respect)
O Regardless of what society thinks, a person
in stage6 acts according to her conscience
and her understanding of ethical principles.
O People in stage 6 do the right things, unless
they misunderstand a situation.
Stage 6 Examples
O I will help the homeless person because
every human being has basic dignity that
should be respected.
O I will not steal because it would be unjust to
take something that doesn’t belong to me.
Practice…
O Let’s try to show our knowledge with this
practice decision….write down what a
person in each stage might choose to do
and WHY.
O Decision: To cheat on a final exam
Learning Check…
O This time, work on your own to see if you can
apply this idea….write down what a person
in each stage might choose to do and WHY.
O Decision: To tell the truth about being late
for curfew.