Lawrence Kohlberg proposed how many stages of moral development?

Lawrence Kohlberg proposed how many stages of moral development?

• A. Four
• B. Six
• C. Eight
• D. Five

Answer: (B)

Kohlberg’s approach to moral development describes a progression in how people reason about what’s right and wrong, moving from concrete rules and consequences to more abstract principles. He organizes this into three levels, with two distinct stages at each level, totaling six stages. The earliest level centers on obedience and punishment as the main guide for action, followed by a focus on self-interest. The next level emphasizes conforming to expectations and maintaining social order through rules and duties. The final level involves reasoning based on universal ethical principles that may even override laws or social norms. Because his framework specifies six distinct stages, not four, five, or eight, the correct count is six. This helps distinguish Kohlberg’s theory from other models, such as Piaget’s stages of cognitive development.

Kohlberg’s approach to moral development describes a progression in how people reason about what’s right and wrong, moving from concrete rules and consequences to more abstract principles. He organizes this into three levels, with two distinct stages at each level, totaling six stages. The earliest level centers on obedience and punishment as the main guide for action, followed by a focus on self-interest. The next level emphasizes conforming to expectations and maintaining social order through rules and duties. The final level involves reasoning based on universal ethical principles that may even override laws or social norms. Because his framework specifies six distinct stages, not four, five, or eight, the correct count is six. This helps distinguish Kohlberg’s theory from other models, such as Piaget’s stages of cognitive development.