Who developed the concept of "moral development" stages?

The concept of "moral development" stages was developed by Lawrence Kohlberg, who built upon Jean Piaget's ideas about moral reasoning. Kohlberg proposed a theory that describes how individuals progress through different levels of moral reasoning as they grow and develop. His model consists of three main levels—pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional—each of which includes two stages that represent increasingly sophisticated forms of moral reasoning.

Kohlberg's stages emphasize the importance of justice and the evolving ability to consider others' perspectives in moral decision-making. This framework is foundational in understanding how children develop the capacity for moral reasoning and ethical behavior, making it a crucial topic in both education and child psychology. The insights gained from his research have had a lasting impact on educational practices, particularly in how moral education is approached in schools.