Which statement best describes the preconventional level of morality?

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In the preconventional level, moral reasoning centers on concrete outcomes for oneself rather than on internal rules or society’s expectations. The statement that morality is based on avoiding punishment and seeking rewards best captures this self-focused view: actions are judged by their direct consequences for the individual, either to escape punishment or to gain something desired. This reflects the two early, self-centered ways people think about right and wrong. The other options describe thinking that’s more about pleasing others, following expectations, or maintaining social order, which belong to later, conventional levels of morality.