Lawrence Kohlberg
Lawrence Kohlberg
A pioneer of moral development theory who demonstrated that people's capacity for moral judgment develops in sequential stages. He extended Piaget's cognitive development theory into the domain of morality.
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Lawrence Kohlberg (1927–1987)
An American developmental psychologist and the founder of the Theory of Moral Development. Inspired by Piaget's cognitive development theory, he systematically studied how moral judgment develops over time.
The 6 Stages of Moral Development
Kohlberg divided moral development into 3 levels and 6 stages:
Pre-conventional Level
Conventional Level
Post-conventional Level
The Heinz Dilemma
Kohlberg used moral dilemma stories to measure people's level of moral reasoning. The most famous is the Heinz Dilemma: "Is it right to steal a drug to save one's wife?" What matters is not the answer itself, but the reasoning and justification behind the judgment.
Criticisms
Kohlberg's theory has been criticized for being Western and male-centric. Carol Gilligan argued that women's moral development centers on care and relationships rather than justice.
From Mindy's Perspective
Mindy finds much to learn from Kohlberg's research. Our sense of right and wrong can grow broader and deeper as we develop. Reflecting on your own values and moral judgments is an important part of personal growth.
💡 Real-Life Example
A child thinking 'I shouldn't lie because I'll get in trouble' gradually developing into an adult who thinks 'Honesty is the foundation of trust' — this progression is a classic example of moral development.
This content is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical diagnosis.