Kolhberg’s theory of moral development : A Review

Abstract

Kolhberg’s theory of moral development states that we progress through three levels of moral thinking that build on our cognitive development. Lawrence Kohlberg expanded on the earlier work of cognitive theorist Jean Piaget to explain the moral
development of children. Kohlberg believed that moral development, ike cognitive development, follows a series of stages. He used the idea of moral dilemmas—stories that present conflicting ideas about two moral values—to teach 10 to 16 year-old boys about morality and values. The best known moral dilemma created by Kohlberg is the “Heinz” dilemma, which discusses the idea of obeying the law versus saving a life. Kohlberg emphasized that it is the way an individual reasons about a dilemma that determines positive moral development.