1. Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Reasoning
Preconventional Level: Stage 1
Based on fear of punishment

2. Preconventional Level: Stage 2
Based on satisfying personal needs (self-interest) or on fair exchange (“You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours”)

3. Conventional Level: Stage 3
Based on maintaining approval of family and friends

4. Conventional Level: Stage 4
Based on fulfilling one’s duties and upholding laws
Laws need to be obeyed or duties need to be fulfilled in order to avoid a “breakdown” in the social system

5. Postconventional Level: Stages 5 and 6
Based on universal principles of justice (e.g., equality of human rights, respect for the dignity of each human being)
May conflict with existing laws

7. Criticisms of Kohlberg’s Theory
Moral reasoning may not be discontinuous
Individuals who are capable of reasoning at more advanced stages may also engage in reasoning at less advanced stages

8. Neglects the role of culture in moral reasoning
Kohlberg’s scoring system is biased toward individual rights
Some cultures place greater value on the good of the community than on individual rights—does not mean they’re less morally advanced

9. Focuses too much on moral reasoning and not enough on actual behavior
Level of moral reasoning and moral behavior are correlated, but the correlation is not that strong
People often reason at a lower level about real-life moral dilemmas than hypothetical dilemmas