Kohlberg's three levels and six stages of moral reasoning

Kohlberg describes six stages of moral reasoning that describe motives behind human behavior and decisions. The stages can be easily divided into three stages. Often individuals progress through the stages chronologically but occasionally a person might remain at one stage of moral development. My six-year-old nephew is at a unique stage or moral reasoning that perfectly illustrates Kohlberg's model. As a young boy he teeters between Pre-Conventional, Conventional and Post-Conventional Morality. Different situations elicit various responses from my nephew. While he mostly operates on Level II (Preconventional) moral reasoning, at times my nephew also exhibits remarkably maturity at a Level III Post-Conventional Morality that few adults have mastered. Most of the time, my nephew remains either at Stage Two ("Exchange of Favors") or at Stage Three in Kohlberg's model: known as the "Good boy/girl" stage.

At his most mature, my nephew seems remarkably tuned into Post-Conventional Morality. During his most childish outbursts, my nephew remains stuck at Stage 1 in Kohlberg's model. Motivated only by the desire for reward or the aversion to punishment, my nephew will tell white lies. For example, he wrote on the walls in my sister's home and when she asked him if he was the culprit he said "No" even though he is the only child in the household. However, his Stage 1 moral reasoning is residual. He is growing and maturing and operates at later stages of moral development.