Lawrence Kohlberg and Theory of Moral Development

Lawrence Kohlberg (October 25, 1927 – January 19, 1987) was an American psychologist born in Bronxville, New York, who served as a professor at the University of Chicago, as well as Harvard University. Having specialized in research on moral education and reasoning, he is best known for his theory of stages of moral development.

Stages 1. Obedience and Punishment (How can I avoid punishment?)
2. Self-Interest (What's in it for me? You do for me, I’ll do for you. You do that to me, I’ll do that to you)
3. Interpersonal Accord and Conformity (Conforming to the will of the group. Peer Pressure)
4. Authority and social-order maintaining orientation (Law and order morality. You do something or don’t do something because the law/rule/religious text says so)
5. Social Contract (Laws are regarded as social contracts rather than rigid dictums/rules)
6. Universal Ethical Principles/The Golden Rule (Principled conscience/commitment to justice, equality and respect…think Jesus, Dr. King, Ghandi)


> your caught by the cops with weed because your bestfriend was going to get caught by there parents. In order for yourself not to get in trouble with your parents and law enforcement do you rat out your bestfriend?

: (1). ill rat out my bestfriend
: (2). ill tell the cops because i know i wont get in trouble
: (5). i cant because i might get beat up
: (4). i can't not tell the cop's i need to do the right thing. what would the world be like if innocent people get in trouble.
: (3). im not telling the cops because i know i wont get beat up
: (6)