Kohlberg's basis for his three stages is known as what?

Kohlberg's basis for his three stages is known as what?

• A. Moral Reasoning
• B. Social Learning Theory
• C. Cognitive Development
• D. Attachment Theory

Answer: (A)

The main idea being tested is moral reasoning. Kohlberg developed his three levels and six stages by focusing on how people justify their moral choices, not just what they decide or how they behave. He proposed that moral development progresses through increasingly sophisticated forms of reasoning about right and wrong, such as following rules and duties, negotiating social contracts, and upholding universal ethical principles, rather than simply obeying authority or imitating others. Understanding this helps distinguish it from the other theories: Social Learning Theory is about learning through observation and reinforcement, not the internal justification for moral judgments; Cognitive Development is a broad framework about how thinking changes with age, while Kohlberg’s contribution zeroes in on the reasoning behind moral judgments; and Attachment Theory deals with emotional bonds, not how people reason morally.

The main idea being tested is moral reasoning. Kohlberg developed his three levels and six stages by focusing on how people justify their moral choices, not just what they decide or how they behave. He proposed that moral development progresses through increasingly sophisticated forms of reasoning about right and wrong, such as following rules and duties, negotiating social contracts, and upholding universal ethical principles, rather than simply obeying authority or imitating others.

Understanding this helps distinguish it from the other theories: Social Learning Theory is about learning through observation and reinforcement, not the internal justification for moral judgments; Cognitive Development is a broad framework about how thinking changes with age, while Kohlberg’s contribution zeroes in on the reasoning behind moral judgments; and Attachment Theory deals with emotional bonds, not how people reason morally.