For a long while, psychologists have been interested in how we develop morality, why some of us develop it sooner, and how exactly the journey progresses.
Lawrence Kohlberg was a prominent psychologist in the 1950s and wanted answers to some of the big questions. How do we develop morality? When does this happen? And how can we track the progress of moral development?
The answer to many of these questions lies in the field of human behavior. An intricate and fascinating field that has long intrigued scientists, psychologists, students of programs like the online Masters in Counseling, and philosophers for centuries.
Lawrence Kohlberg: The Man Behind the Theory
Born in 1927 in New York, Lawrence Kohlberg was the youngest of four. His father was a Jewish merchant, and his mother was a protestant amateur chemist. After a stint as a merchant mariner, he enrolled in college and completed a bachelor of arts in psychology.
While pursuing his doctoral degree, Kohlberg became interested in the work of Jean Piaget, the renowned developmental psychologist.
Developing a Theory
Like any good scientist, Kohlberg came up with a series of experiments to guide his research. These experiments were a series of moral ‘dilemmas’ like the famous “Heinz Dilemma,” where a man named Heinz must decide whether to steal a drug he cannot afford to save his dying wife.
Kohlberg presented this and other moral dilemmas to participants of various ages and backgrounds, asking them to explain the reasoning behind their decisions.
Kohlberg’s focus was not on the decisions themselves but on the reasoning behind them. He categorized the responses into six distinct stages of moral development, grouped into three levels: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional.
At the pre-conventional level, moral reasoning is based on direct consequences and self-interest. The conventional level is more about sticking to social rules and the desire for social approval. The post-conventional level is characterized by abstract reasoning based on universal ethical principles.
Pre-conventional Level: Obedience and Self-Interest
This is the earliest stage of moral development, lasting until around 9 years old. Kohlberg believed that a child’s moral actions are mostly driven by consequences at this age, which is why the first part of this level is called obedience and punishment.
The second stage at the pre-conventional level is called individualism and exchange. Children start to consider different perspectives and evaluate actions based on how well they meet individual needs.
In the Heinz Dilemma, they believed the best decision was the one that most effectively addressed Heinz’s needs. At this stage of moral development, reciprocity can occur, but only if it aligns with self-interest.
Conventional Level: Social Approval and Law and Order
This stage happens a bit later on as young people start to accept and understand the moral lessons of their earlier years. This period also focuses on authority and social norms.
The first part of the conventional level is the “good boy” attitude. This is a tendency to conform to the way your group behaves. At this stage, Heinz would steal the drug because, as a devoted husband, he is expected to do everything possible to save his wife’s life.
The second part of conventional morality focuses on maintaining the social order. Moral reasoning considers the laws of society, so Heinz would not steal the drug as it is illegal.
Post-conventional Level: Social Contract and Universal Principles
The final stages of morality are a little more nuanced; people start to develop more complex and abstract ways of thinking morally. The social contract comes into play, where rules are seen as agreements between members of society and can, therefore, be changed. In this scenario, Heinz should steal the drug because saving a life is more fundamentally moral than theft.
The final step in moral development is understanding universal principles. Moral reasoning is based on the complex interplay between ethics and justice. People learn to follow an internalized sense of morality even if it conflicts with the law.
Understanding Moral Development
As you can see, moral development is not something that happens overnight. Kohlberg himself said that “moral development is a lifelong process that continues throughout adulthood.” However, just like Piaget’s stages of development are useful milestones, the stages of moral development can help us analyze how and why people make the moral decisions they do at different ages.
Stages and key indicators allow us to measure moral development with tools like Kohlberg’s ‘moral judgment interview,’ which uses moral problems like the Heinz Dilemma to observe moral choice.
All in all, the stages of moral development offer a scientifically grounded way to measure and assess moral development, a useful clinical tool for psychologists, parents, and educators alike.
