Which psychologist identified the three levels of moral development, including Preconventional, Conventional, and Postconventional?

• A. Lawrence Kohlberg
• B. Erik Erikson
• C. Albert Bandura
• D. Sigmund Freud

Answer: (A)

Lawrence Kohlberg developed a theory of moral development that describes how moral reasoning matures in three broad levels: Preconventional, Conventional, and Postconventional. In the Preconventional level, moral thinking centers on avoiding punishment or pursuing personal gain. In the Conventional level, reasoning focuses on conforming to social rules and maintaining order. In the Postconventional level, decisions are guided by abstract principles like justice and rights, even when they conflict with laws or norms. This framework specifically identifies those three levels, making it the correct association for who described them.

Erik Erikson is known for eight psychosocial stages of development, focusing on social and emotional growth. Albert Bandura developed social learning theory, emphasizing modeling and imitation. Sigmund Freud proposed psychoanalytic theory with psychosexual stages.