Lawrence Kohlberg

Psychology 1100

Ambri Holtkamp

Lawrence Kohlberg was a very well-known American Psychologist, he

was born on October 25, 1927 and passed away on January 19, 1987.
Kohlberg was known best for his theory on the stages of moral development,
he had studied Jean Piagets study on moral development and decided to
extend it. Not only did he extend Piagets theory he extended the theories of
George Herbert Mead and James Mark Baldwin. With extending these
theories, Kohlberg was also making a new field in psychology for moral
development.
At a young age, Kohlbergs parents divorced, he and his three siblings
rotated between the two parents for six months at a time until the children
were able to choose who they wanted to live with. Although his parents did
split at a young age, he was still excellent young man. Kohlberg attended
high school at Phillips Academy, which was an elite preparatory school.
Continuing his education in 1948, he joined the University of Chicago.
Kohlberg was able to quickly receive credits for courses by examination, and
he earned his bachelors degree in one year and graduated in 1948. After
receiving his bachelor he began to study for his doctoral degree in
psychology at Chicago University, he completed this in 1958.
In 1958, Kohlberg had his first position offered to him at Yale
University, as an assistant professor of psychology and worked there until
1961. He spent a year after that at the Center of Advanced Study in the
Behavioral Sciences, after the year was up he joined the Psychology

Department of the University of Chicago as an assistant, after some time he

became the associate professor of psychology and human development. In
1967, Kohlberg had an appointment at Harvard Graduate School of Education
for a job and became Professor of Education and Social Psychology, which he
began in 1968. He remained there until his death on January 19, 1987.
Kohlbergs stages of moral development consisted of three levels and
six stages. His first level was the Pre Conventional this was seen between
ages three to seven years, stage one, Punishment and Obedience. This stage
is seen more commonly in children but also in some adults. At this level,
morals are often judged by direct consequence, rewarding them for doing
something good or punishing them for doing something bad. This is the
beginning stage of moral development in a child. Stage two, Self Interest
Orientation, children are more interested in what they will get out of the
situation. This is mostly defined by what the person thinks is best in there
interest, if I clean up my mess, I can get a candy bar! its based off of what
they need to satisfy their own needs.
Level two, Conventional, this level is seen more commonly in ages
eight to thirteen years. Stage three, Interpersonal Accord and Conformity,
this stage is known as the peer pressure level.

You want to be

acknowledged by your friends, a crowd, or someone who influences you. This

is expected behavior, determining between right and wrong entirely on the
people you surround yourself with. You become aware of approval, respect

and gratitude. Stage four, Authority and Social-order Maintaining, this stage
is based on laws. It is important to keep a functional society. If you disobey a
law, there will be a consequence. It is important to uphold to laws and rules.
Level three, Post conventional, this is seen in adulthood. Stage five,
Social Contract Orientation, this is based off the state that people have their
own morals now but they aren't entirely certain of them. They also have
other competing morals to compromise their principles to avoid any situation
that could be right or wrong, democratic government is based off stage five
for an example. Stage six, Universal Ethical Principles, this is based on a
higher law, we need to adhere to laws in order to be obedient. A good
example would be Martin Luther King, if you follow him and his morals you
may face the consequences.
I find Lawrence Kohlberg very interesting, I enjoyed reading about his
theory. He seemed to be very smart at a young age and started his career
immediately. Although, it did take him five years to publish anything. He still
succeeded and used inspiration from other psychologist and theories. This
seems to be one of the most tangible theories on moral development, while
he was extending other theories he began to create a new field in
psychology for moral development.

"Lawrence Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d.

Web. 26 July 2016. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Kohlberg

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"Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development." Lawrence Kohlberg Wiki. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 July
2016.

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