Lawrence Kohlberg and His Theory of Moral Development
Early Life and Education
Lawrence Kohlberg was born on October 25, 1927, in Bronxville, New York. He developed an interest in psychology and philosophy at a young age and went on to study at the University of Chicago, where he earned his Ph.D. in psychology in 1958.
Theory of Moral Development
Kohlberg is best known for his theory of moral development, which he developed based on the work of Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget. According to Kohlberg's theory, individuals progress through six distinct stages of moral reasoning from childhood to adulthood.
The Six Stages of Moral Reasoning
- Pre-conventional morality: At this stage, individuals make moral decisions based on avoiding punishment and seeking rewards.
- Conventional morality: At this stage, individuals make moral decisions based on what they believe society expects of them.
- Post-conventional morality: At this stage, individuals make moral decisions based on their own personal principles and values, even if they conflict with societal expectations.
Later Career
Kohlberg continued to develop his theory of moral development throughout his career. He also worked as a professor at Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley. He died in 1987 at the age of 59.
Legacy
Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development remains one of the most influential and widely used theories in the field of psychology today. It has been used to study moral development in children and adults, and has been applied to a variety of real-world issues, such as crime, justice, and education.
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