Stage 6 universal ethical principal orientation in

Stage 6: Universal-Ethical-Principal Orientation
In stage 6, moral reasoning is based on abstract reasoning using universal ethical principles. Generally,
the chosen principles are abstract rather than concrete and focus on ideas such as equality, dignity, or
respect. Laws are valid only insofar as they are grounded in justice, and a commitment to justice carries

with it an obligation to disobey unjust laws. People choose the ethical principles they want to follow, and
if they violate those principles, they feel guilty. In this way, the individual acts because it is morally right
to do so (and not because he or she wants to avoid punishment), it is in their best interest, it is expected,
it is legal, or it is previously agreed upon. Although Kohlberg insisted that stage six exists, he found it
difficult to identify individuals who consistently operated at that level.
Critiques Of Kohlberg’s Theory
Kohlberg has been criticized for his assertion that women seem to be deficient in their moral reasoning
abilities when compared to men. Carol Gilligan (1982), a research assistant of Kohlberg, criticized her
former mentor’s theory because it was based so narrowly on research using white, upper-class men and
boys. She argued that women are not deficient in their moral reasoning and instead proposed that males
and females reason differently: girls and women focus more on staying connected and maintaining
interpersonal relationships.
Kohlberg’s theory has been criticized for emphasizing justice to the exclusion of other values, with the
result that it may not adequately address the arguments of those who value other moral aspects of
actions. Similarly, critics argue that Kohlberg’s stages are culturally biased—that the highest stages in
particular reflect a westernized ideal of justice based on individualistic thought. This is biased against
those that live in non-Western societies that place less emphasis on individualism.
Another criticism of Kohlberg’s theory is that people frequently demonstrate significant inconsistency in
their moral judgements. This often occurs in moral dilemmas involving drinking and driving or business
situations where participants have been shown to reason at a lower developmental stage, typically using
more self-interest driven reasoning (i.e., stage two) than authority and social order obedience driven
reasoning (i.e., stage four). Critics argue that Kohlberg’s theory cannot account for such inconsistencies.
3. GESELL'S STAGES OF EQUILIBRIUM AND DISEQUILIBRIUM
Equilibrium vs. Disequilibrium

So, if your child’s behavior seems to take a turn for the worse or if he seems to be more difficult to
manage, it may be that a stage of equilibrium has given way to a stage of disequilibrium. You are
experiencing the roller coaster of development first-hand. These phases of equilibrium and
disequilibrium begin at birth and extend far into the teen years. Infants often cycle between these
periods of calm and disorder weekly. As children reach the age of 18 months, the stages of development