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Based on Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, American psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-1987) developed his own theory of moral development in children. Kohlberg believed that people progressed in their moral reasoning (i.e., in their bases for ethical behavior) through a series of stages. According to Kohlberg’s theory of moral development, there are 6 stages of moral development, known as Kohlberg’s stages of moral development. Kohlberg classified their moral reasoning into three levels, each of which contains two distinct substages.
3. A real life classroom example of moral development theory
An example is a student who witnesses cheating on an important exam. The student is faced with the dilemma of whether to report the cheating or keep quiet.
• A person at the pre-conventional level of moral development might choose not to report cheating because they fear the consequences or because they believe that everyone cheats.
• A person at the conventional level might report cheating because they believe it is their duty to uphold the rules and maintain fairness in the academic environment.
• A person at the post-conventional level might weigh the ethical implications of both options and make a decision based on their principles and values, such as honesty, fairness, and integrity, even if it may come with negative consequences.
This example demonstrates how moral development theory can help us understand how individuals reason about ethical dilemmas and make decisions based on their moral reasoning.
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