Kohlberg Essay

Through extensive studies on moral development Lawrence Kohlberg was able to identified and define three different levels of moral development. Within these three levels he then also subdivides them into two different subcategories. (DeGeorge, 22) Level one is the Preconventional level which is broken down into two stages obedience and punishment and the second stage is individualism. Level two is the Conventional level. In this level the stages are interpersonal relationships and maintaining social order. The third and final level is Postconventional level. The stages in this level are social contract and individual rights and lastly universal principles. (Team Coolberg) It is common for people to never reach the third level and most people are not categorized into one particular category but often jump from one level to the other depending on their situation. (DeGeorge, 22) Based on this scale I would consider myself to be in the conventional level of morality. The preconventional level refers mostly to young children learning right from wrong through punishment. Obedience and punishment teach children what is considered to be right and wrong and begins to teach them basic rules. In the second stage of the preconventional level children begin to understand “individual points of view and judge actions based on how to serve individual needs.” (Team Coolberg) I believe that based on the description of this level of morality I have grown to understand rules and I am able to react to punishment. I have an understanding of my individual needs and I base my actions on what I need to do to serve my individual needs. I believe that I am in the conventional level of morality. It states in the textbook Business Ethics that “In this stage, a person reacts to the expectations of parents or peers. We conform to the norms learned at home, in school or in church.” (DeGeorge, 23) In this stage we learn to accept the morality we have learned from others and conform to