Lawrence Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development

Early Life and Background

WEB Lawrence Kohlberg (October 25, 1927 - January 17, 1987) was an American psychologist best known for his theory of stages of moral development.

Theory of Moral Development

Kohlberg formulated a theory asserting that individuals progress through six distinct stages of moral reasoning from childhood to adulthood. These stages are characterized by increasing levels of moral complexity and the ability to reason about ethical principles.

Kohlberg's theory was based on the research of Jean Piaget on cognitive development and his own observations of children's responses to moral dilemmas.

Kohlberg's theory has been widely influential in the study of moral development and has been used in educational and counseling settings.