Theories of Moral Development

Theories of moral development explore how individuals understand right and wrong as they grow. Jean Piaget suggested children progress through stages of moral understanding, moving from obedience to understanding fairness. Lawrence Kohlberg proposed a sequence of moral reasoning levels—from avoiding punishment to developing personal principles—showing moral growth as people consider broader ethical ideas. Carol Gilligan emphasized the importance of relationships and care in moral reasoning, especially for women. These theories help explain how moral thinking evolves, shaping behavior and decision-making across different ages and contexts.