Question

324. According to Lawrence Kohlberg, during the preconventional stage of

moral development children tend to:
(A) Use abstract thoughts or principles to determine their behavior
(B) Make behavioral decisions based on legal issues
(C) Understand morality based on customs or values
(D) Interpret behavior in terms of concrete consequences
(E) Define good behavior as that which pleases other people

Answer 1

During the preconventional stage of moral development according to Lawrence Kohlberg, children interpret behavior in terms of concrete consequences, such as rewards and punishments.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Lawrence Kohlberg, during the preconventional stage of moral development, children tend to interpret behavior in terms of concrete consequences. This means that their moral reasoning is typically based on considering the direct outcomes of their actions, such as rewards or punishments. They are motivated by self-interest, seeking to avoid punishment or gain personal benefits, rather than by abstract principles or a sense of duty towards society. Kohlberg identified this stage as occurring before age 9, where children lack the higher level cognitive abilities that allow for more complex moral reasoning.

Therefore, the answer to the student's question is (D) Interpret behavior in terms of concrete consequences. This stage is contrasted with the conventional level of moral development, which emerges during the teen years, where children consider what society views as "good" and "bad," and the postconventional level, where morality is understood in more abstract and principled terms.