Final answer:
At the pre-conventional level of Kohlberg's model, decision-making is based on self-interest and avoiding punishment, with morality viewed from a personal and egocentric perspective.
Step-by-step explanation:
Individuals in the pre-conventional stage of Kohlberg's model of cognitive moral development base their decisions on immediate gratification and the avoidance of punishment. In this stage, moral reasoning is typically centered around self-interest, and what is considered 'right' is often equated with what can be directly rewarded or what can prevent personal harm. Decisions at this level are not based on laws or societal norms but are grounded in the individual's own experiences and desires.
Young children primarily inhabit the pre-conventional stage because they have yet to develop the ability to think from others' perspectives or understand community-focused reasoning. This stage is characterized by a more simplistic understanding of morality, not the abstract reasoning found in the higher stages of conventional and post-conventional moral development, where societal norms and ethical principles play a greater role.