• AnomyBirth to 5 years) 
• Heteronomy – authority (5 – 8 years)
• Heteronomy Reciprocity (8 – 13 years) 
• Autonomy Adolescence (13 – 18years) 

1. Anomy (Birth to 5 years) Piaget called the first stage anomy, the stage without the law. At this stage the behavior of child is neither moral nor immoral but is non – moral . So, the child’s behaviour is not guided by moral standards. The regulators of behaviour arc pain and pleasure.
2. Heteronomy – Authority (5 to 8 years) (Morality of Constraint) This stage of moral development may be called the discipline of artificial consequences imposed by adults. Moral development controlled by external authority. Rewards and punishment regulate moral development.

• Children in this stage view rules and authority as fixed and unchangeable. They believe that rules are determined by adults or authorities and cannot be altered.
• They also believe that consequences are more important than intentions. If a rule is broken, they focus on the outcome rather than the intention behind the action.

3. Heteronomy – Reciprocity (8 to 13 years) At this stage, there is the morality of cooperation with peers or equals. This stage is regulated by reciprocity which implies that conformity with the group becomes necessary at this stage.
4. Autonomy – Adolescence (13 to 18 years) Piaget calls the stage as equity stage. Children of this stage demand equality in moral action. The individual at this stage is fully responsible for his behaviour.

📕 Additional Information:

• Piaget divided moral development into two main stages:
  • Heteronomous morality: rules as unchangeable and imposed by authorities (moral realism)
  • Autonomous morality: rules are created by people and can be negotiated (moral relativism)