During which stage is the focus on personal gain or avoiding consequences strongest?

The correct answer is the Pre-Conventional Stage. This stage is characterized by a focus on individualism and self-interest, where moral reasoning is primarily based on personal gain or the desire to avoid punishment. In this stage, individuals make decisions largely influenced by external consequences; they assess whether an action is right or wrong based on the direct outcomes to themselves. For example, a child in this stage might refrain from stealing a cookie not because they understand it is wrong, but because they fear punishment.

This aligns with the foundational principles of moral development theorized by Lawrence Kohlberg, who identified this stage as the initial level of moral reasoning. In contrast, individuals in the Conventional Stage begin to consider societal norms and the expectations of others, while those in the Post-Conventional Stage operate on principles that go beyond individual interests or societal acceptance, focusing on universal ethical principles. The Intermediate Stage is not a widely recognized or defined level in Kohlberg's theory of moral development, which reinforces the clarity of the Pre-Conventional Stage as the appropriate answer regarding a strong focus on personal gain or avoidance of consequences.