Table 1 Kohlberg’s stages of moral development
Preconventional stage | |
|---|---|
Stage 1 | Avoidance of punishment. The physical consequences of the act determine whether it is good or bad. |
Stage 2 | Instrumental exchange. Right actions are those that instrumentally satisfy one’s own needs. People are valued in terms of their usefulness. |
Conventional stage | |
Stage 3 | Interpersonal conformity. Right actions are those expected by society or peers, with the purpose of obtaining the approval of others. |
Stage 4 | Law and order. Right actions consist of doing the right thing, respecting authority and maintaining social order. Deviation from the rules can lead to social chaos. |
Postconventional stage | |
Stage 5 | Social contract. Behavior is guided by a sense of obligation to a social contract that protects people’s rights. Laws and obligations should be based on the rational calculation of global utility, “the greatest good for the greatest number” |
Stage 6 | Universal ethical principles. Right actions are defined in terms of universal moral principles (justice, fairness of human rights, and respect for the dignity of human beings as individuals). |