Kohlberg's theory identifies a stage where morality is based on social contracts and individual rights. This stage is commonly referred to as

• A. Preconventional
• B. Conventional
• C. Postconventional
• D. Social Contract

Answer: (D)

In Kohlberg's theory, morality progresses from following rules for personal gain or to avoid punishment, to following norms, and finally to reasoning based on abstract principles and rights. The stage described—judgments grounded in social contracts and individual rights—belongs to the postconventional level, where people evaluate laws and norms in light of broader justice and rights, and may challenge or change them if they violate those principles. The label that captures this way of thinking is the social contract orientation, emphasizing that rules are flexible agreements aimed at protecting rights and promoting the common good. This is distinct from the earlier levels, which center on obedience to rules for punishment avoidance or for social conformity, and from the higher level that emphasizes universal ethical principles.