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How many stages of moral development did Lawrence Kohlberg describe?

Six stages, taken in order with none skipped.

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  1. Four
  2. Five
  3. Six ✔

Why: Kohlberg said people move through six stages of moral development in order, from avoiding punishment up to living by universal principles. Learn to Lead calls him a Maslow for morals.

Huh, didn't know that: Kohlberg found few people consistently reach the sixth stage, and later removed it from his scoring.

The dad joke
Why did the cadet take the stairs instead of the elevator? He didn't want to skip a stage.
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References

Answer: Six. Kohlberg said people move through six stages of moral development in order, from avoiding punishment up to living by universal principles. Learn to Lead calls him a Maslow for morals.

  1. Learn to Lead, Volume 3: Indirect Leadership, chapter 9 (Civil Air Patrol) www.gocivilairpatrol.com/media/cms/L2LVolume_3__LOW_FINAL_4_MAY_13CC68236BDFE.pdf
    Lawrence Kohlberg found that each person passes through a series of six stages in the course of their moral development.
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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Test yourself in the game

Leadership & CadetsUsing Kohlberg's ideas, how should a leader help followers grow morally?Leadership & CadetsA squadron uses merits and demerits to build character. Which approach is that?Leadership & CadetsLeadership by example, where cadets learn by watching good role models, is called what?

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