In Kohlberg's theory, what are the three main levels of moral development?

• A. Autonomy, Identity, Intimacy
• B. Id, Ego, Superego
• C. Preconventional, Conventional, Postconventional
• D. Sensorimotor, Preoperational, Concrete Operational

Answer: (C)

Kohlberg's theory describes moral development in three broad levels, each with a distinct pattern of reasoning about right and wrong. At the first level, moral judgments are based on avoiding punishment and seeking personal gain, so reasoning is self-centered. At the second level, people conform to social expectations and seek approval or maintain social order, so judgments hinge on norms and duties. At the highest level, moral thinking is guided by abstract principles such as justice, rights, and universal ethical standards, sometimes extending beyond local laws or social approval. These three names—Preconventional, Conventional, and Postconventional—capture the progression from self-focused reasoning to society-focused norms, and finally to principled reasoning. The other options draw from different theories (Erikson’s psychosocial stages, Freud’s structural model, and Piaget’s cognitive stages) and do not reflect Kohlberg’s moral-development framework.