Which of the following is a Pre-Conventional stage of Kohlberg's moral development?

• A. Obedience-and-Punishment Orientation
• B. Law-and-Order Orientation
• C. Instrumental Purpose Orientation
• D. Good Boy, Nice Girl Orientation

Answer: (A)

In Kohlberg’s view, the earliest stage of moral reasoning is driven by external controls—obeying rules to avoid punishment or to gain rewards, not from an internal sense of right or fairness. Obedience-and-Punishment Orientation fits this pre-conventional level because the person’s judgments about right and wrong are based on avoiding punishment and following authority, rather than understanding why a rule exists.

The other options reflect later stages where morality is tied to social expectations or laws: Instrumental Purpose Orientation involves actions taken for personal gain or reciprocity; Good Boy, Nice Girl Orientation centers on seeking approval from others; Law-and-Order Orientation emphasizes obeying laws to maintain social order.