The third and highest broad level of moral development is post conventional level. The individual is personally committed to a set of principles that are shared with others but go beyond particular authority figures. Moral standards are internalized and become part of an individual. No longer tied to the rules of authority or society but is able to organize and reanalyze moral people in particular situations.
Stage V: Social Contact Orientation Stage VI: Universal Ethical Orientation
Stage V: Social Contact Orientation: At this stage, morality reflects a sense of obligation to uphold social laws and contracts that protect all people’s right. Individuals have an awareness of many points of view and have a desire to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people.
Moral behaviour is no longer governed by one’s duty / by obedience to the letter of law but by the principles that underline law.
Stage VI: Universal Ethical Orientation: In this stage, right and wrong are based on self chosen ethical principles. Rules are not concrete, they are abstract moral principles of universal justice and respect for all individuals. When laws violate these moral principles, individuals should act in accordance with their principles rather than the law. Individuals consider the rights of all human beings, they the individual is oriented toward moral decision based on universal peoples of justice, reciprocity and equality of human rights and respect for the dignity of human beings as individual persons.Kohlberg described this stage as a “Potential stage”.
Participants