Stage 1 -- Punishment and Obedience
This is the stage where children are unable to see both sides of a dilemma and will base their behavior on avoiding punishment and being afraid of authority. A child is most concerned with pleasing himself or herself.

Stage 2 -- Instrumental Purpose
At this stage children see the right action coming from self-interest. They understand the idea of reciprocity. They do what is neccessary, and people are valued on the basis of their usefulness.

Stage 3 -- Good Boy / Good Girl ; Interpersonal Cooperation
A person operating at this stage of moral development behaves in a way that gains approval from others. He or she wants to obey the rules that promote social harmony, but more importantly wants to be seen as trustworthy or a good friend.

Stage 4 -- Maintaining Social Order
At this stage, a person obeys the rules and laws of society. Rules must be treated the same way for everyone, behavior is no longer guided by pleasing ones' friends. Everyone has the duty to uphold the law.

Stage 4½ -- A Transitional Stage
This stage is represented well by college students who see Stage 4 reasoning as something arbitrary, and feel they are beyond that level. However, they may not quite be at the level of ethical principles required for the Postconventional Level, and may follow the rule of "doing your own thing". A good example of this is the culture of hippies from a few decades ago.

Stage 5 -- Social Contract
Individuals operating at this stage see rules and laws as more flexible. They want the law to be interpreted fairly, and they abide by it because it will provide good for all people. The freedom of an individual should only be limited by rules if it is hurting someone else's freedom.

Stage 6 -- Universal Ethical Principles
At this highest stage, the right action is based on one's own principles that one feels are right for all people. This person's values are abstract, and he or she considers every human being equal and respects all people.

1. Stage development does not vary.
One must progress through the stages in order, and one cannot get to a higher stage without passing through the stage immediately preceding it.

2. One cannot comprehend a stage in development more than one beyond the one he is currently at.

3. Cognitively, one is attracted to the stage just beyond her current stage.

4. Movement through the stages is effected when a cogniive disequilibrium arises.
When one's current outlook is not able to deal with a moral dilemma that has occured, the individual will grow because he is now looking for a new and better approach for solving a dilemma.

5. One can easily be physically mature without being morally mature.

6. Kohlberg believed that only 25% of all people would mature to the sixth and final stage of moral development.