Introductory Sociology CLEP Prep Practice Exam 2026 – The All-in-One Guide to Master Your CLEP Success!

The theory of "stages of moral development" is most famously associated with Lawrence Kohlberg, who built upon the foundation of Jean Piaget's work on moral reasoning. Kohlberg proposed a model consisting of three main levels of moral development: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional, each containing two stages, resulting in a total of six stages. This model outlines how individuals develop their moral reasoning through increasingly sophisticated levels, moving from a focus on direct consequences and rewards to considering societal rules and ultimately universal ethical principles.

Kohlberg’s approach emphasizes that moral development is a gradual process influenced by cognitive development and social experience. His research involved analyzing the reasoning individuals used to justify their moral decisions, rather than focusing solely on the decisions themselves. This shifted the understanding of morality from a fixed set of rules to a more dynamic and evolving process that can change with maturity and social context.

The other individuals listed are known for different theories: Sigmund Freud is associated with psychoanalysis, particularly his theories on personality development; Erik Erikson is known for his stages of psychosocial development; and Carl Rogers is recognized for his humanistic approach to psychology and concepts like self-actualization and unconditional positive regard. These distinctions clarify why Kohlberg is specifically credited with