Final answer:
Behavior directed by self-accepted moral principles represents the postconventional stage of Lawrence Kohlberg's moral development model. At this level, individuals base their actions on their own moral principles rather than societal standards or legal dictates.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lawrence Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development
According to Lawrence Kohlberg, behavior directed by self-accepted moral principles exemplifies the postconventional stage of moral development. In the postconventional stage, individuals think abstractly about moralty, recognizing that legal standards and moral standards may not always align. This is the final stage of Kohlberg's moral development theory, where morality is judged based on personal principles of justice and rights.
For example, during the 2011 protests in Egypt against government corruption, the protestors exhibited postconventional morality. They were acting on the belief that, while their government was legal, its actions were not morally correct.
It is worth noting that, even with sophisticated moral reasoning, people's actual behavior may not always reflect their moral reasoning, highlighting a distinction between moral thinking and moral conduct.
Kohlberg's Levels of Moral Reasoning
- Preconventional: Morality is determined by consequences to the individual, such as punishment or reward.
- Conventional: Morality is determined by social norms and the need to uphold laws and rules.
- Postconventional: Morality is determined by abstract reasoning and principles, which may transcend laws and social norms.