Lifespan Study Aid: Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development

If you're struggling to recall Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development, try the mnemonic CHARLE(s). Check out the visual below along with an explanation of each stage.

Pre-conventional Morality: 

Punishment and Obedience Orientation: The goodness or badness of an act depends on its consequences. For children at this stage, the right course of action is the one that allows them to avoid punishment. 

Instrumental Hedonism: Consequences still guide moral judgments, but judgments are based more on obtaining rewards and satisfying personal needs than on avoiding punishment. 

Conventional Morality: 

“Good Boy/Good Girl” Orientation: The right action is the one that is liked or approved of by others. 

Law and Order Orientation: In this stage, moral judgments are based on the rules established by legitimate authorities. 

Post-conventional Morality: 

Morality of Contract, Individual Rights, and Democratically Accepted Laws: The morally right action is the one that is consistent with democratically determined laws.

Morality of Individual Principles of Conscience: Right and wrong are determined on the basis of broad, self-chosen universally applicable ethical principles.