As Selena and her friends are walking home after school they approach a corner store and see bags of candy and snacks on open shelves outside the front door. A young clerk is also outside waiting for customers. As they get closer, they see the clerk go inside the store. Selena’s friends encourage her to take a bag of candy, but she refuses. How would an individual in Kohlberg’s preconventional stage of moral reasoning explain Selena’s behavior?
Are you familiar with Kohlberg's stages of moral development? Read about his ideas, then let us know what you think:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohlberg's_stages_of_moral_development
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Selena didn’t take the candy because she might get caught.
Which of the following is a temperamental characteristic that is associated with prosocial behavior? is B the correct answer
A.
Low social anxiety
B.
Popularity among peers
C.
Coherent self-concept
D.
Intelligence
In order to understand how an individual in Kohlberg's preconventional stage of moral reasoning would explain Selena's behavior, let's first explore what this stage entails.
Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning consists of three stages, with the preconventional stage being the first stage. In this stage, individuals tend to base their moral judgments on external consequences and personal interests. Their moral reasoning is governed by obedience to authority and the idea of rewards and punishments.
With that in mind, an individual in the preconventional stage might likely explain Selena's behavior as being motivated by avoiding punishment. They may argue that Selena refused to take the bag of candy because she was concerned about the potential consequences of stealing, such as getting caught and facing punishment from her parents, school, or the store clerk.
To arrive at this explanation, an individual in the preconventional stage would typically analyze the situation from a self-interest perspective, primarily considering the direct impact on Selena and the potential punishment associated with her actions. They might deem Selena's refusal as a rational decision to avoid negative consequences rather than as a moral choice based on a sense of right and wrong.
It is important to note that Kohlberg's stages of moral reasoning are just one theory and that individuals' moral development can vary greatly. Different people may interpret Selena's behavior differently based on their ethical framework, personal values, and experiences.