LEVEL 1 PRECONVENTIONAL

Stage 1- Heteronomous Morality

To avoid breaking rules backed by punishment, obedience for its own sake, and avoiding physical damage to persons and property.

Avoidance of punishment, and the superior power of authorities.

Egocentric point of view. Doesn't consider the interests of others, or Recognize that they differ from the Actor's; doesn't relate two points of view. Actions are considered physically rather than in terms of psychological interests of others. Confusion of authority's perspective with one's own.

Stage 2 Individualism Instrumental Purpose, and Exchange

Following rules only when it is to someone's immediate interest acting to meet one's own interests and needs and letting others do the same. Right is also what's fair, what's an equal exchange, a deal, an agreement.

To serve one's own needs or interests in a world where you have to recognize that other people have their interests, too

Concrete individualistic perspective. Aware that everybody has his own interest to pursue and these conflict, so that right is relative (in the concrete individualistic sense).

LEVEL II – CONVENTIONAL

Stage 3 Mutual Inter- Personal, Expectations Relationships, and Interpersonal Conformity

Living up to what is expected by people close to you or what people generally expect of people in your role as son, brother, friend, etc. "Being good" is important and means having good motives, showing concern about others. It also means keeping mutual relationships, such as trust, loyalty, respect and gratitude.

The need to be a good person in your own eyes and those of others. Your caring for others. Belief in the Golden Rule. Desire to maintain rules and authority which support stereotypical good behavior.

Perspective of the individual in relationships with other individuals. Aware of shared feelings, agreements, and expectations which take primacy over individual interests. Relates points of view through the Concrete Golden Rule, putting your- self in the other guy's shoes. Does not yet consider generalized system perspective.

Stage 4 Social Systems And Conscience

Fulfilling the actual duties to which you have agreed. Laws are to be upheld except in extreme cases where they conflict with other fixed social duties. Right is also contributing to society, the group, or institution.

To keep the institution going as a whole, to avoid the breakdown in the system "if everyone did it," or the imperative Of conscience to meet ones defined obligations.

Differentiates societal point of view from interpersonal agreement or motives. Takes the point of view the system that defines roles and rules. Considers individual relations in terms of place in the system.

LEVEL III – POSTCONVENTIONAL, or PRINCIPLED

Stage 5 Social Contract Or Utility and Individual Rights

Being aware that people hold a variety of values and opinions that most values and rules are relative to your group. These relative rules should usually be upheld, however, in the interest of impartiality and because they are the social contract. Some non-relative values and rights like life and liberty, however, must be upheld in any society and regardless of majority opinion.

A sense of obligation to law because of one's social contract to make and abide by laws for the welfare of all and for the protection of all people's rights. A feeling of contractual commitment, freely entered upon, to family, friendship, trust, and work obligations. Concern that the laws and duties be based on rational calculation of overall utility, "the greatest good for the greatest number."

Prior-to-society perspective. Per- spective. Perspective of a rational individual aware of values and rights prior to social attachments and contracts. Integrates perspectives by formal mechanisms of agreement, contract, objective impartiality, and due process. Considers moral and legal points of view; recognizes that they sometimes conflict and finds it difficult to integrate them.

Stage 6 Universal Ethical Principles

Following self-chosen ethical principles. Particular laws and social agreements are usually valid because they rest on such principles. When laws violate these principles, one acts in accordance with the principle. Principles are universal principles of justice: the equality of human rights and respect for the dignity of human beings as individual persons.

The belief as a rational person in the validity of universal moral principles, and a sense of personal commitment to them.

Perspective of a moral point of view from which social arrangements derive. Perspective is that of any rational individual recognizing the nature of morality or the fact that persons are ends in themselves and must be treated as such.