Which Kohlberg stage is described as following rules to avoid punishment?

Which Kohlberg stage is described as following rules to avoid punishment?

• A. Punishment and obedience orientation
• B. Instrumental relative orientation
• C. Social contract orientation
• D. Law and order orientation

Answer: (A)

In Kohlberg's theory, moral reasoning at the pre-conventional level centers on external consequences rather than internalized norms. The stage described as following rules to avoid punishment is Punishment and Obedience Orientation, the first stage. Here, what’s right is what prevents punishment, and authority figures are seen as the source of rules to be followed mainly to avoid negative consequences. The emphasis is on obedience to avoid punishment rather than on any broader idea of fairness or social good. Other stages move beyond this focus. Instrumental relativist orientation centers on self-interest and reciprocity, doing what’s right to gain rewards or favors. Social contract orientation recognizes that rules can be based on fair procedures and individual rights within a social framework. Law and order orientation emphasizes upholding laws and maintaining social order, sometimes even above individual needs.

In Kohlberg's theory, moral reasoning at the pre-conventional level centers on external consequences rather than internalized norms. The stage described as following rules to avoid punishment is Punishment and Obedience Orientation, the first stage. Here, what’s right is what prevents punishment, and authority figures are seen as the source of rules to be followed mainly to avoid negative consequences. The emphasis is on obedience to avoid punishment rather than on any broader idea of fairness or social good.

Other stages move beyond this focus. Instrumental relativist orientation centers on self-interest and reciprocity, doing what’s right to gain rewards or favors. Social contract orientation recognizes that rules can be based on fair procedures and individual rights within a social framework. Law and order orientation emphasizes upholding laws and maintaining social order, sometimes even above individual needs.