Which term describes decisions based on external rules and norms in Kohlberg's model?

• A. Preconventional
• B. Conventional
• C. Postconventional
• D. Autonomous

Answer: (B)

In Kohlberg's framework, moral reasoning grows through stages, and decisions guided by external rules and social norms happen at the conventional level. Here, people judge actions by whether they conform to laws and what others expect, aiming to uphold social order and gain approval. This contrasts with the earlier level, which focuses on personal consequences like reward or punishment, and the later level, which rests on internalized, principled ethics that can go beyond specific rules. Note that “autonomous” isn’t a standard Kohlberg label; the higher, principled reasoning is described as postconventional.