Lawrence Kohlberg is an American psychologist born in 1927. He was interested in Jean Piaget's theories and wanted to expand on them. Instead of using Piaget's theories for cognitive development, Kohlberg used his expanded theory to solve moral dilemmas. His best known dilemma was about a man named Heinz:
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What is important about Kohlberg's theory for your understand as a parent and your child's development is that this is how or why your child makes decisions. As your child grows and learns, they will develop their own moral ideas or concepts that may differ from yours. These are the different stages of development that Kohlberg found :
You can find the image and other information here or here
You can find the image and other information here or here
- Level 1: At level one, children are most likely nine years old or younger. At this point, their ideas of morality are shaped by rules and guidelines set in place for them, what is right or wrong. They base their behavior around avoiding punishment, there is nothing ethical behind it.
- Level 2: Those at level two are adolescents and adults. At this level, there is little difference between legal principles and moral principles. Individuals in this stage aim to please authority figures by following the rules that are handed down to them. Kohlberg believed that most people stay at this level for their entire life, never viewing morality for themselves.
- Level 3: Very few people make it to level three. People at this level see the that what is right for others can override what is legal or illegal. These principles are all chosen individually and always about those around them, rarely about themselves.