Ages 4 to 10, in which children obey because parents tell them to and fear consequences, correspond to Kohlberg's stage in which rewards and punishments dominate moral thinking.

Ages 4 to 10, in which children obey because parents tell them to and fear consequences, correspond to Kohlberg's stage in which rewards and punishments dominate moral thinking.

• A. Conventional
• B. Postconventional
• C. Universal Ethical Principles
• D. Preconventional

Answer: (D)

The main idea is Kohlberg’s preconventional level of moral development, where reasoning is driven by external consequences and self-interest rather than social norms. In this stage, children judge actions by what will bring rewards or avoid punishment. For ages 4 to 10, obedience to parents or rules often comes from fear of punishment or the desire for a reward, not from internalized beliefs about right and wrong. That’s why this pattern aligns with preconventional thinking. As children grow, they typically move into conventional morality—adhering to rules and seeking social approval—and later into postconventional morality, which is guided by internal principles and universal ethics.

The main idea is Kohlberg’s preconventional level of moral development, where reasoning is driven by external consequences and self-interest rather than social norms. In this stage, children judge actions by what will bring rewards or avoid punishment. For ages 4 to 10, obedience to parents or rules often comes from fear of punishment or the desire for a reward, not from internalized beliefs about right and wrong. That’s why this pattern aligns with preconventional thinking. As children grow, they typically move into conventional morality—adhering to rules and seeking social approval—and later into postconventional morality, which is guided by internal principles and universal ethics.