Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development has been an influential framework for understanding how individuals develop their concept of right and wrong, and how they make moral decisions. Providing students with an understanding of Kohlberg’s stages can help them develop a stronger sense of morality and ethics, and make better choices in their personal and professional lives.
So, what exactly is Kohlberg’s theory, and how can we help students learn about it? In brief, Kohlberg proposed that individuals progress through six stages of moral development, each building upon the previous one. The first three stages deal with more basic moral issues, such as following rules and avoiding punishment; the middle stages involve seeing morality as a social contract, and taking into account other people’s rights and perspectives; and the final stages move beyond personal and social concerns, and prioritize universal ethical principles such as justice and human dignity.
To teach students about Kohlberg’s theory, it’s helpful to start by providing concrete examples of each stage using real-life scenarios. For instance, a stage one example might be a child who tells the truth because they fear getting into trouble if they lie. A stage two example might be a person who follows rules only because they want to receive rewards or recognition. As students move up the stages, they grapple with more complex moral dilemmas and learn to incorporate a wider range of perspectives.
Another way to teach about Kohlberg’s theory is to have students apply it to their own lives and experiences. They can reflect on times when they’ve made moral choices, and consider what stage they might have been operating from. They can also discuss current events or social issues, using Kohlberg’s framework to analyze different perspectives and evaluate ethical arguments.
