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The Stages of Moral Development
The Stages of Moral Development
Moral development refers to the “process through which a human person gains his/her beliefs,
skills and dispositions that make him/her a morally mature person.
William A. Kay has the following to say regarding the nature of moral development:
1. Pattern of intellectual growth can be simply described as passing through stages of animal
behavior, pre-logical thinking, thought governed by empirical logic and finally by formal logic, so
morality can be described as passing through stages of behavior controlled first, by taboo
2. By law
3. By conscience (i.e. irrational, intrajected values)
4. By reciprocity
5. By social consensus and finally by personal moral principles, though not necessarily in that
order.
State differently, the five stages may be reduced to three as follows:
1. The amoral stage – egocentric, hedonist and prudential considerations
2. The pre-moral stage – authoritarian, ego-idealist, social and reciprocal considerations
3. The moral stage-personal, autonomous, altruistic, rational, independent and responsible
considerations
Level 2 – Conventional
Throughout the conventional level, a child’s sense of morality is tied to personal and societal
relationships. Children continue to accept the rules of authority figures, but this is now due to their
belief that this is necessary to ensure positive relationships and societal order. Adherence to rules and
conventions is somewhat rigid during these stages and a rule’s appropriateness or fairness is seldom
questioned.
● Stage 3. “Good boy, Nice Girl” Orientation. In stage 3, children want the approval of others and
act in ways to avoid disapproval. Emphasis is placed on good behavior and people being “nice”
to others. The individual is good in order to be seen as being a good person by others.
Therefore, answers relate to the approval of others. The individual values caring and loyalty to
others as a basis for moral judgments.
● Stage 4. Law and Order Orientation. The child/individual becomes aware of the wider rules of
society, so judgments concern obeying the rules in order to uphold the law and to avoid guilt. It
is a matter of “I have to do this because the law says so.” It is still blind obedience to the law so
morality still lacks internalization.
As one’s consciousness widens, the moral parameters or standards of one’s decision making widens,
one’s moral conscience widens, one mature.
Stage 1 Stage 2
Obedience and Individual interest:
Level 1
punishment: behavior driven by
Pre-conventional
behavior driven by self-interest and
morality
avoiding rewards
punishment
Stage 3 Stage 4
Interpersonal: Authority:
Level 2 behavior driven by behavior driven by
Conventional social approval obeying authority
morality and conforming to
social order
Stage 5 Stage 6
Level 3 Social contract: Universal ethics:
Post-conventional behavior driven by behavior driven by
morality balance of social internal moral
order and principles
individual rights