Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development proposes a three-level sequence describing how our sense of justice evolves. Using ethical scenarios like the Heinz dilemma, he showed that moral thinking matures from simply avoiding punishment all the way to grasping universal ethical principles. The model is not without critics, though: Carol Gilligan argued it carries a gender bias, proposing that women often reason through a morality based on care.
Exams often give you a quoted reason for a moral decision and ask which of Kohlberg’s levels it belongs to; for instance, "avoiding jail" points straight to the preconventional level. Students also mix up the criticisms, so keep this clear: Gilligan argued that Kohlberg’s theory was male-biased and proposed that women favor a "morality of caring" over a morality of abstract justice.
Part of Basic Psychology, module “Human Development”. Sign in (free) to read the full notes, flashcards and the lesson quiz.