FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

In Kohlberg's first stage of moral development, what is the primary reason for following rules?

1. To achieve social approval

2. To avoid punishment

3. To satisfy personal needs

4. To abide by laws

The correct answer is: To avoid punishment

In Kohlberg's first stage of moral development, children make decisions based primarily on the desire to avoid punishment. This stage, known as the pre-conventional level, emphasizes obedience to authority and the avoidance of negative consequences. At this early stage, moral reasoning is largely self-centered; individuals obey rules or laws primarily to escape the repercussions of their actions rather than out of a sense of morality or understanding of social contracts. The focus is on direct consequences rather than the more complex ideas of fairness, justice, or social cooperation that develop in later stages. As children progress to higher stages of moral development, they start to consider social approval, personal needs, and the importance of rules and laws in a broader context, but in this initial stage, the predominant motivation is to avoid punishment.