MORALITY: principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.

Kohlberg's stages of moral development are planes of moral adequacy conceived (created) by Lawrence Kohlberg to explain the
development of moral reasoning. This theory holds that moral reasoning, which is the basis for ethical behavior, has six identifiable
developmental stages. He followed the development of moral judgment beyond the ages originally studied by Piaget who claimed that logic
and morality develop through constructive stages. Kohlberg expanded considerably on this groundwork, determining that the process of
moral development was principally concerned with justice and that its development continued throughout the lifespan, even spawning
dialog of philosophical implications of his research. Kohlberg would categorize and classify moral responses into one of six distinct stages.
These six stages where broken into three levels: pre-conventional, conventional and post-conventional. His theory is based on constructive
developmental stages; each stage and level is more adequate at responding to moral dilemmas than the last.

Summary: Kohlberg studies morality by breaking it down into developmental stages. As

stages increase, so does ones ability to respond to moral dilemmas.

STAGES OF MORALITY

Examples

1. Obedience and punishment

(fear of getting in trouble)

I want the candy, but if I take it, I will get

punished.

2. Self-interest
(What's in it for me?)

Ill help sweep the floor as long as I get

casals cash!

3. Interpersonal accord and

conformity
(I want to be seen as good)

Im going to take a selfie of me donating

money to post on instagram and facebook.

4. Authority and social-order

(Keeps things fair in the world)

I understand that you havent eaten in 2

days, but the government says I can only
give one sandwich per person today.

5. Social contract
(Everyone deservse basic rights)

Even though it is illegal to block the streets,

this peaceful protest is important. We are
protesting to show that black lives matter
just as all lives matter.

6. Universal ethical principles

(Each life has value and worth; it
is our universal responsibility to
think for the greater good of all
this sometimes involves personal
sacrifice)

I have a dream that one day children will

not be judged by the color of their skin, but
by the content of their character. &
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice
everywhere. (Martin Luther King Jr.) I will
work tirelessly to make sure that not just
some people, not just my people, but all
people have equality and justice.