Kohlberg's theory of moral development consisted of three levels, each consisting of two stages. Kohlberg stated that people could only pass through the levels in the order listed but not everybody achieved each stage.
Level 1: Pre-conventional morality
Throughout this level, the child's morals are shaped by the people they are surrounded by. The child is influenced by the standards of adults and what is labeled as good and bad.
Stage 1: Obedience and punishment orientation
During this stage, the child begins to realize that if they are being punished, it is because they are being bad or doing something wrong. The child can also tell if something is right based on the action that follows.
Stage 2: Individualism and exchange
Around this stage, children begin to understand that there isn't always one right and one wrong. They begin to experience different punishments because of different things. Because of this, they start to realize that different people have different views on life.
Level 2: Conventional morality
This is the level where we as a person begin to internalize the morals we have learned through our elders and society. During this stage, their actions are based on what they think their elders or society would do, not by their own beliefs.
Stage 3: Good interpersonal relationships
This is where the child behaves in such a way that they would be perceived as a good person according to others. For example, the child begins to realize that people like him less when he is naughty. Because of this he starts to behave more in order to have more friends.
Stage 4: Maintaining the social order
This is the stage where the child begins to see the rules of society on a wider scale. The child wants to be recognized by the society as a whole, rather than individuals. They begin to uphold rules and laws in order to avoid the feeling of guilt.
Level 3: Post-Conventional morality
Around this time, we begin to form our own opinions, ideas and morals based on what we believe in rather than what other people believe.
Stage 5: Social contract and individual rights
The individual understands that rules are rules and they're there for a reason but every once in a while there comes an exception to the rules. Decisions in this situation are to be based on their own beliefs rather than the beliefs of the greater society.
Stage 6: Universal principles
This is the last stage of Kohlberg's stages of moral development and he believed that only a select few of individuals successfully reach this stage. If the individual is in this stage then they have acquired their own moral guidelines. The individual is also willing to stand by these guidelines no matter the opinion of others or the consequences that may follow.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Kohlberg's_stages_of_moral_development#Conventional
Level 1: Pre-conventional morality
Throughout this level, the child's morals are shaped by the people they are surrounded by. The child is influenced by the standards of adults and what is labeled as good and bad.
Stage 1: Obedience and punishment orientation
During this stage, the child begins to realize that if they are being punished, it is because they are being bad or doing something wrong. The child can also tell if something is right based on the action that follows.
Stage 2: Individualism and exchange
Around this stage, children begin to understand that there isn't always one right and one wrong. They begin to experience different punishments because of different things. Because of this, they start to realize that different people have different views on life.
Level 2: Conventional morality
This is the level where we as a person begin to internalize the morals we have learned through our elders and society. During this stage, their actions are based on what they think their elders or society would do, not by their own beliefs.
Stage 3: Good interpersonal relationships
This is where the child behaves in such a way that they would be perceived as a good person according to others. For example, the child begins to realize that people like him less when he is naughty. Because of this he starts to behave more in order to have more friends.
Stage 4: Maintaining the social order
This is the stage where the child begins to see the rules of society on a wider scale. The child wants to be recognized by the society as a whole, rather than individuals. They begin to uphold rules and laws in order to avoid the feeling of guilt.
Level 3: Post-Conventional morality
Around this time, we begin to form our own opinions, ideas and morals based on what we believe in rather than what other people believe.
Stage 5: Social contract and individual rights
The individual understands that rules are rules and they're there for a reason but every once in a while there comes an exception to the rules. Decisions in this situation are to be based on their own beliefs rather than the beliefs of the greater society.
Stage 6: Universal principles
This is the last stage of Kohlberg's stages of moral development and he believed that only a select few of individuals successfully reach this stage. If the individual is in this stage then they have acquired their own moral guidelines. The individual is also willing to stand by these guidelines no matter the opinion of others or the consequences that may follow.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Kohlberg's_stages_of_moral_development#Conventional