A psychologist named Lawrence Kohlberg made a model of moral development explaining what motivates a person to act as he or she does. There are six levels to his model. A person who is Level 1 act to avoid pain or punishment, Level 2 act to get a reward, Level 3 act to gain approval, Level 4 act because of belief in the law, Level 5 act for the welfare of others, and Level 6 act because of a self-formulated set of principles. Kohlberg believes that this model can be applied to anyone. This model could also work for characters at the end of the book To Kill a Mocking Bird.

The characters Bob Ewell, Mayella, Dill, and Mrs.Dubose can be described as a Level 1. Bob Ewell acted to avoid pain or punishment throughout the book. He beat her daughter, Mayella, as well as his other children to forget the pain of his...