AP Psychology
Kohlberg's stages of moral development is a theory that describes how individuals develop their understanding of right and wrong, progressing through six distinct stages. These stages are based on the reasoning behind an individual's moral judgments.
Kohlberg's stages of moral development arise from the cognitive-developmental perspective, focusing on how people's moral reasoning matures as they progress through life.
Lawrence Kohlberg's theory was influenced by Jean Piaget's work and developed through longitudinal studies of boys where he presented them with moral dilemmas. His research suggested that moral development progresses through a series of six distinct stages.