6 stages of moral developement

Asia Winger Prof . Phyllis Parise

PHL210-0804A-14 : Ethics

Stealing and Moral Reasoning : Kohlberg 's Stages of Moral Development

Numerable instances in an individual 's life challenge his or her moral capacities and inhibitions . Such judgment based on moral reasoning was studied by Jean Piaget in a four-stage constructive theory of cognitive development , and was further explored by Lawrence Kohlberg in his six-stage constructive theory of moral development

Piaget and Kohlberg - both significant figures of developmental psychology , epistemology , and ethics - focused on the growth of moral reasoning across human lifespan , specifically across

developmental stages . These stages emerge one after the other , with each stage more comprehensive at responding to moral dilemmas than the last

Kohlberg 's theory (1979 , however , delved into studying individuals beyond the stages that Piaget determined . This signified that intellectual development regarding morally-relevant undertakings and issues did not stop at age 11 , as what Piaget mentioned in his theory Kohlberg believed and proved that during adolescence , moral reasoning further developed adequately . His six-stage theory was further divided into three major levels : pre-conventional , conventional , and post-conventional moralities (Crane , 1985

Kohlberg conducted a study that showed these levels of moral reasoning across children of different age levels who were asked to respond to a specific moral predicament popularly known as the Heinz Dilemma . The dilemma is such

A woman is suffering from a rare form of cancer and is near death . The doctors claim that there is only one drug that might possibly save her However , only one pharmacist , who lived...