Which statement best describes Stage 3?

• A. Maintaining social order and obeying rules
• B. Developing good interpersonal relationships
• C. Understanding abstract principles
• D. Accounting for differing values and beliefs

Answer: (B)

Stage 3 centers on developing good interpersonal relationships and seeking approval from others. In this stage, moral judgments are guided by the desire to be seen as a “good person” in the eyes of peers and authority figures, focusing on trust, loyalty, and caring within relationships. Actions are judged by how they affect harmony and the way others view you, rather than by strict rules or abstract principles.

That’s why the statement about developing good interpersonal relationships best describes Stage 3. The other descriptions align with later stages: maintaining social order and obeying rules reflects a focus on rules and authority, while understanding abstract principles and accounting for differing values and beliefs point to higher, more principled levels of reasoning.