The preconventional stage, according to Lawrence Kohlberg's Levels of Moral Thinking, refers to the first level of moral development in which individuals make decisions based on self-interest and avoiding punishment.
Preconventional stage is a term from Kohlberg's moral development theory, reflecting an understanding of morality based on consequences and personal benefits rather than societal rules or ethical principles.
Lawrence Kohlberg's research on moral development, particularly his longitudinal studies of boys' moral reasoning, established the preconventional stage as the initial phase of moral development observed in children.