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Kohlberg's level of morality

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examWritten by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025

Definition

Kohlberg's level of morality refers to the stages of moral development proposed by Lawrence Kohlberg. These stages describe how individuals develop their sense of right and wrong, and how they make moral decisions.

Theoretical Perspectives

Kohlberg's theory of moral development outlines three levels of morality: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional. Each level is associated with specific stages that reflect the evolution of moral reasoning.

Study And Research Findings

Lawrence Kohlberg conducted a study using moral dilemmas, such as the "Heinz dilemma," to assess moral reasoning. His longitudinal research found that children and adults progress through the stages sequentially without skipping any stage.

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