Which theory focuses on the development of moral reasoning?

Lawrence Kohlberg’s stages of moral development specifically address how individuals progress through different levels of moral reasoning. His theory outlines six stages grouped into three main levels: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional morality. Each stage represents a different approach to ethical decision-making and moral understanding. For instance, at the pre-conventional level, individuals base their decisions on personal consequences, while at the post-conventional level, morality is guided by abstract principles and the welfare of others.

Kohlberg’s work builds on Piaget’s earlier findings about children's cognitive development and moral understanding but goes deeper by focusing explicitly on how moral reasoning evolves over time. This unique emphasis on moral judgment and ethical decision-making sets Kohlberg's theory apart from Freud's psychosexual stages, which center on personality development and internal conflicts; Piaget's cognitive development theory, which deals broadly with how thinking evolves; and Vygotsky’s social development theory, which emphasizes the role of social interactions in cognitive growth. Thus, Kohlberg's theory is central to understanding how individuals develop their moral reasoning skills.