Lawrence Kohlberg's Four Stages Of Moral Development

Maxwell Middle School is a small, inner city school. Many of the students come from low income, single parent families. It is a rough neighborhood for both students and teachers to learn and grow.
Sarah is fourteen years old. She lives in a small apartment with her aunt and four younger siblings. Her aunt works three jobs and Sarah is often left alone to care for her brothers and sisters. She is struggling in school, often too tired or stressed to be able to focus on her schoolwork.
Mike is thirteen years old. He works hard and tries to get good grades. Both of his parents are high school teachers, so he gets a lot of extra tutoring at home. Mike is advanced for his age and has been invited to attend Mason Hall private high school this upcoming …show more content…
The framework includes three levels and six stages. The first stage is obedience and punishment. This concerns an individual making a decision in order to avoid a punishment. Mike does not want to be punished for plagiarism, especially because he works hard and does well in school. He does not want to risk failing the paper or not being able to attend the private high school. The second stage in moral development, individualism and exchange, occurs when individuals “recognize that there is not just one right view that is handed down by the authorities. Different individuals have different viewpoints” (Mcleod, S.A.). Mike understands that Sarah has issues at home. The can see how she would choose family over school- she needs to take care of her family. The third stage is good interpersonal relationships. The “individual is good in order to be seen as being a good person by others” (Mcleod, S.A.). Mike does not want his teachers or his peers to perceive him as a liar or a cheater. He does not want to deceive anyone. He does well in school and does not want his reputation to be tarnished by this issue. The fourth stage in moral development is maintaining the social order. The “individual becomes aware of the wider rules of society so judgments concern obeying rules in order to uphold the law and to avoid guilt” (Mcleod, S.A.). Mike knows that if he submits the paper as it is, he is guilty of deceiving the other members in the group and Mr. Smith. He wants to follow the rules and obey the school’s policy against plagiarism. The fifth stage is social contract and individual rights. In this stage, the individual understands the importance of laws, but knows that there are exceptions. Sarah has been forced into a situation that is out of her control. She is not voluntarily a part of anything that conflicts with her school. She needs to take care of her siblings.