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What Is Cognitive Moral Development?

The theory of cognitive moral development was first offered by the Swiss developmental psychologist Jean Piaget and more fully developed by psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg. This theory postulates that children go through specific sequential stages in terms of how they conceptualize moral issues.

  1. Piaget’s Two Stage Theory

    • Piaget observed that children below the age of 10 or 11 see rules as fixed and absolute. When children reach the age of 11 or 12 there is a shift toward relativism. Rules are viewed as changeable so long as people agree to the changes.

    Kohlberg’s Six Stage Theory of Moral Development

    • Kohlberg described three levels of moral development: Preconventional, Conventional and Post Conventional/Moral Priniciples. Each level has two stages.

    Stages 1 and 2: Preconventional Thinking

    • During the first stage of moral development, “Obedience and Punishment,” children consider an action to be wrong or immoral if results in punishment. During the second stage, "Naively Egoistic Orientation," an act is considered moral if it satisfies the self’s needs.

    Stages 3 and 4: Conventional Thinking

    • During the “Good-boy/Good-girl Orientation” stage of cognitive development, judgment of morality is based on conformity to stereotyped conventions of right and wrong, and on a persons’ intentions. In stage 4, “Authority and Social Order Maintaining Orientation,” views of morality are oriented around showing respect for authority and social order.

    Stages 5 and 6: Post Conventional Thinking and Moral Principles

    • In the fifth stage of moral development, “Contractual/legalistic Orientation,” judgments of what is right and wrong are based on agreed upon rules of institutions and shared beliefs about rights and responsibilities. According to Kohlberg, in the sixth and final stage of moral development, “Individual Principles,” judgments of morality are based on internalized, consistent principles that may conflict with conventions, rules or laws, and which therefore involve personal choice.

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