Kolhberg developed a scenario to ask his participants. In the Heinz Dilemma, a woman is dying and only one cure can save her. The drug inventor is charging $2,000. The husband, Heinz, raises $1,000 and pleads with the seller to reduce the price. The seller denies his request and tells Heinz that he -- that is, the seller -- wants to make money. So Heinz steals the cure. Each participant was asked about Heinz's decision to steal.
In Kohlberg's theory, children younger than age 13 began at level one, the premoral level. In stage one of this level, children based their decision on rules set by authority figures and the repercussions for violating such laws. In the Heinz Dilemma, children ignored the ethical problem and were concerned about Heinz's punishment for breaking the law. In stage two, the children focused on satisfying their needs. In this stage, often labeled the egoist stage, the important factor was Heinz benefiting. The children also believed in an eye for eye, since the druggist overpriced Heinz stole his cure.
Level two, the conventional level, was for preteens to middle age. In stage three, people conformed to society's expectations on having good intentions and pleasing others. The respondents examined the personality and motives of each actor involved. While Heinz had honorable intentions and any judge would pardon him, the participants felt the druggist should be punished for being greedy and heartless. In stage four, respondents were concerned with the effect of laws on society and being good citizens. The subjects sympathized with Heinz, but breaking the law was unacceptable regardless of the intentions. Society was included in the reasoning process; the participants felt obeying laws created a functioning society.
Stage five focused on society's obligation to value and balance morals with citizen rights. The respondents all agreed on two facts: Heinz should face a light punishment for breaking the law and he had a moral obligation to save his wife. The fundamental values in this stage included respecting authority, being kind and following the rules to a certain extent. An individual's rights are overlooked if the action seems justified. In stage six, each person's interest was impartially considered and valued; everyone's rights must be respected. Although Kohlberg couldn't find enough participants for stage six, he believed people honored universal principles such as equal rights and respect.