Maria wants to take a classmate’s toy. Maria is in the preconventional stage of morality. What is Maria most likely to do and why?
-leave the toy alone because she knows it is the right thing to do
-take the toy because she believes the rule against taking other children’s toys is unfair
-take the toy because she wants to give it to her sister, who has no toys and deserves it more
-leave the toy alone because she knows the teacher would punish her
To determine Maria's most likely course of action in this scenario, we can analyze her stage of morality, which is stated to be the preconventional stage. In the preconventional stage, individuals typically base their moral judgments on self-interest and obedience to authority.
1. Leaving the toy alone because she knows it is the right thing to do: This option is less likely because, in the preconventional stage, individuals prioritize their own self-interest over abstract concepts like "rightness" or "wrongness."
2. Taking the toy because she believes the rule against taking other children's toys is unfair: This option is more aligned with the preconventional stage. Maria may be motivated to take the toy because she perceives the rule as unfair and seeks to benefit herself.
3. Taking the toy because she wants to give it to her sister, who has no toys and deserves it more: Although Maria may have good intentions, this option is less likely in the preconventional stage because it involves considering someone else's situation and needs, rather than her own self-interest.
4. Leaving the toy alone because she knows the teacher would punish her: While avoiding punishment is a consideration in the preconventional stage, it is not as prominent as self-interest or obedience to authority. Therefore, this option is less likely.
So, based on Maria's preconventional stage of morality, the most likely option is that she would take the toy because she believes the rule against taking other children's toys is unfair and wants to benefit herself.