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Abby Report Ethics

Kohlberg identified 6 stages of moral development across 3 levels - pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional. In the pre-conventional level, children follow rules to avoid punishment. In the conventional level, morality is tied to relationships and maintaining social order. In the post-conventional level, individuals recognize that social rules may be unjust and moral reasoning is based on abstract principles of justice and equality.

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Abegail Lucapa
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92 views3 pages

Abby Report Ethics

Kohlberg identified 6 stages of moral development across 3 levels - pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional. In the pre-conventional level, children follow rules to avoid punishment. In the conventional level, morality is tied to relationships and maintaining social order. In the post-conventional level, individuals recognize that social rules may be unjust and moral reasoning is based on abstract principles of justice and equality.

Uploaded by

Abegail Lucapa
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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-Stages of Moral Development-

Kohlberg’s stages of moral development

Kohlberg identified three levels of moral reasoning: pre-conventional,


conventional, and post-conventional. Each level is associated with
increasingly complex stages of moral development.

Level 1: Preconventional
Throughout the preconventional level, a child’s sense of morality is
externally controlled. Children accept and believe the rules of authority
figures, such as parents and teachers. A child with pre-conventional morality
has not yet adopted or internalized society’s conventions regarding what is
right or wrong, but instead focuses largely on external consequences that
certain actions may bring.

Stage 1: Obedience-and-Punishment Orientation


focuses on the child’s desire to obey rules and avoid being punished. For
example, an action is perceived as morally wrong because the perpetrator is
punished; the worse the punishment for the act is, the more “bad” the act is
perceived to be.

Stage 2: Instrumental Orientation


-expresses the “what’s in it for me?” position, in which right behavior is
defined by whatever the individual believes to be in their best interest. Stage
two reasoning shows a limited interest in the needs of others, only to the
point where it might further the individual’s own interests. As a result,
concern for others is not based on loyalty or intrinsic respect, but rather a
“you scratch my back, and I’ll scratch yours” mentality.

Level 2: Conventional
Throughout the conventional level, a child’s sense of morality is tied to
personal and societal relationships. Children continue to accept the rules of
authority figures, but this is now due to their belief that this is necessary to
ensure positive relationships and societal order. Adherence to rules and
conventions is somewhat rigid during these stages, and a rule’s
appropriateness or fairness is seldom questioned.

Stage 3: Good Boy, Nice Girl Orientation


-children want the approval of others and act in ways to avoid disapproval.
Emphasis is placed on good behavior and people being “nice” to others.

Stage 4: Law-and-Order Orientation


- the child blindly accepts rules and convention because of their importance
in maintaining a functioning society.

Rules are seen as being the same for everyone, and obeying rules by doing
what one is “supposed” to do is seen as valuable and important.

Level 3: Postconventional
Throughout the postconventional level, a person’s sense of morality is
defined in terms of more abstract principles and values. People now believe
that some laws are unjust and should be changed or eliminated. This level is
marked by a growing realization that individuals are separate entities from
society and that individuals may disobey rules inconsistent with their own
principles.

Stage 5: Social-Contract Orientation


-the world is viewed as holding different opinions, rights, and values. Such
perspectives should be mutually respected as unique to each person or
community. Laws are regarded as social contracts rather than rigid edicts.

Stage 6: Universal-Ethical-Principal Orientation


-moral reasoning is based on abstract reasoning using universal ethical
principles. Generally, the chosen principles are abstract rather than concrete
and focus on ideas such as equality, dignity, or respect. Laws are valid only
insofar as they are grounded in justice, and a commitment to justice carries
with it an obligation to disobey unjust laws.

Report by:
Lucapa, Abegail R.
18-43200 BSED-II

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