Synonyms
Definition
Preconventional moral reasoning is the first of three levels of moral reasoning in Kohlberg’s Structural Theory of Moral Development. At the preconventional level, children judge right and wrong based on external rather than internal standards, and emphasis is placed on avoiding punishment and maximizing self-interests [1, 3, 4, 5, 6].
Description
Preconventional moral reasoning is the first of three levels of moral reasoning in Kohlberg’s Structural Theory of Moral Development, a cognitive-developmental approach to moral development that describes six invariant, sequential, universal, and progressively complex structural stages of moral judgment across the life-span [4]. The preconventional moral reasoning level is followed by the levels of conventional and postconventional moral reasoning. The preconventional level of moral reasoning consists of two stages, the second of which consists of a more complex and advanced sociomoral perspective...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Colby, A., & Kohlberg, L. (1987). The measurement of moral judgment: Vol. 1. Theoretical foundations and research validation. New York: Cambridge University Press.
DiBiase, A., Gibbs, J. C., Potter, G. B., & Spring, B. (2005). EQUIP for educators: Teaching youth (grades 5–8) to think and act responsibility. Champaign: Research Press.
Kohlberg, L. (1981). Essays on moral development: Vol. 1. The philosophy of moral development: Moral stages and the idea of justice. San Francisco: Harper & Row.
Kolhberg, L. (1984). Essays on moral development: Vol. 2. The psychology of moral development: The nature and validity of moral stages. San Francisco: Harper & Row.
Kohlberg, L. (2008). The development of children’s orientations toward a moral order: 1. Sequence in the development of human thought. Human Development, 51, 8–20. [Reprint of Vita Humana 1963, 6, 11–33.]
Kuhmerker, L. (1991). The Kohlberg legacy for the helping professions. Birmingham: Doxa Books.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
About this entry
Cite this entry
Senland, A. (2011). Preconventional Moral Reasoning. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2213
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2213
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1
Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science