Paral Theory: Lawrence Kohlberg's Moral Development Theory

Introduction Kohlberg’s moral development theory has been discussed for a very long time. He used the story-telling technique to illustrate stories involving moral dilemmas. His best known story illustrating moral dilemmas is call the Heinz Dilemma. According to this story Lawrence Kohlberg came up with 3 levels of moral development, with 2 stages in each level. And so the story goes as follow. 

“Heinz’s wife was dying from a particular type of cancer. Doctors said a new drug might save her. The drug had been discovered by a local chemist and the Heinz tried desperately to buy some, but the chemist was charging ten times the money it cost to make the drug and this was much more than the Heinz could afford. Heinz could only raise half the money,

Their development depends on the approval of others, and living up to the expectations of their family and community. Taking the previous example again, my brother at his teenage years, he would help out his friend who got into a fight even though he knows that getting involve in a fight will get him into punishment from his teacher. According to him, friendship is more important to him than getting punishment.
Stage 4: Maintaining Social Order People will begin to think and consider about the society as a whole and not just about the people around them when making judgements and decisions. The individual will become more aware of the rules and laws of society, to uphold the law, do one’s duty and to respect authority.
If my friend gets into a drug war, and the only way to help him is to bring a gun and join him, I would have to think and consider my decision. It is not right to bring a gun even it is to help my friend. If the whole society did the same thing there would be chaos. So at that point, I am considering the society as well when I’m making my moral judgement.

Level 3: Post-Conventional