Final answer:
A five-year-old's moral development is characteristic of Kohlberg's pre-conventional level, which is self-centered and based on tangible rewards and punishments. As children grow older, they may evolve into the conventional level and eventually, some may reach the post-conventional level of moral reasoning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The moral development of a five-year-old is most accurately described by Lawrence Kohlberg's pre-conventional level of moral reasoning. In this stage, children experience the world and make moral decisions in a very self-centered way, with a focus on avoiding punishment and seeking rewards they can observe or experience directly. As children mature into adolescence, they may begin to progress into the conventional level of moral reasoning, where they consider society's norms and the feelings of others. The third and most advanced stage, post-conventional, involves abstract thinking about moral principles and may not develop until adulthood, if at all.
Looking at Kohlberg's stages of moral development helps us understand that the moral reasoning of individuals evolves as they grow, influenced by cognitive development and social interactions. It is critical to note that moral reasoning can differ from moral behavior, and according to Kohlberg, most people do not reach the post-conventional stage of moral development.