When does a child start thinking, “This isn’t fair”—and not just “I’ll get in trouble”?
Lawrence Kohlberg’s theory of moral development doesn’t define what’s right or wrong. Instead, it maps out how people make those decisions as they grow. It’s also a favorite on the ASWB exam.
This post focuses on how to spot Kohlberg’s stages in practice scenarios—the way they’re most likely to show up on your test.
Need a full stage-by-stage breakdown? Start here: Understanding Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development
The ASWB exam doesn’t ask you to regurgitate theory charts. Instead, you’ll need to recognize how a client thinks—and what kind of moral logic they’re using.
Here’s what that looks like in action:
Preconventional reasoning = “Will I get punished?”
Conventional reasoning = “What do the rules say?”
Postconventional reasoning = “What do I believe is right?”
Preconventional (up to age 9, but can persist into adolescence):
Stage 1: Obedience and punishment
Stage 2: Instrumental purpose (“What’s in it for me?”)
Conventional (most teens and adults):
Stage 3: Good boy/girl morality—approval matters
Stage 4: Law and order—rules are rules
Postconventional (some adults, not all reach it):
Stage 5: Social contract—laws can be unjust
Stage 6: Universal ethical principles—guided by conscience
A 16-year-old client reports feeling conflicted about skipping school to join a protest. “I know it’s against the rules, but it’s for something I believe in.” What Kohlberg stage does this best reflect?
A. Interpersonal conformity
B. Obedience and punishment
C. Social contract
D. Instrumental exchange
The teen is reasoning at a postconventional level—acknowledging the rules, but weighing them against personal values. Correct answer: C. Social contract
When you see a question about ethics, rule-breaking, or value conflicts, ask yourself: What’s motivating the client? Approval? Punishment? Principle? That’s your clue to the Kohlberg stage—and your key to answering correctly.
Want more practice questions like this? Take a test and see how you score.
Here's the promised quick quiz: Name the three levels in Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development (via Wikipedia). Answer in Comments.
Level 1: ______________
1. Obedience and punishment orientation
(How can I avoid punishment?)
2. Self-interest orientation
(What's in it for me?)
Level 2: ______________
3. Interpersonal accord and conformity
(Social norms)
(The good boy/good girl attitude)
4. Authority and social-order maintaining orientation
(Law and order morality)
Level 3: ______________
5. Social contract orientation
6. Universal ethical principles
(Principled conscience)
Here's a video walk-through of the Kohlberg states (one of several on YouTube):
Right now, get SWTP's online practice exams at a reduced price. Just $39. Get additional savings when buying more than one exam at a time-- less than $30 per exam!
Keep going till you pass. Extensions are free.
To receive our free study guide and get started!