PSYCH ADOL - Chapter 7 -Moral Development, Values, and Religion

Moral development

involves changes in thoughts, feelings, and behaviors regarding standards of right and wrong.

has an intrapersonal dimension

Level 1: Preconventional reasoning

the lowest level of moral development, at which moral thinking reasoning is controlled primarily by a punishment-and-obedience orientation

Level 2: Conventional reasoning

an intermediate level during which individuals develop expectations about social roles, such as the roles of parents and children, and they understand the importance of following the laws of society

Level 3: Postconventional reasoning

the highest level of moral development, at which conventional considerations are now judged against moral concerns such as liberty, justice, and equality, with the idea that morality can improve laws

Care Perspective

which views people in terms of their connectedness and concern for others.

social cognitive theory of moral development

emphasizes a distinction between adolescents’ moral competence and moral performance.

Altruism

an unselfish interest in helping another person.

Forgiveness

an aspect of prosocial behavior that occurs when the injured person releases the injurer from possible behavioral retaliation

Gratitude

a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation, especially in response to someone doing something kind or helpful

Conscience

the component of the superego that involves behaviors not approved of by parents.

Ego ideal

the component of the superego that involves standards approved by the parents.

Empathy

reacting to another’s feelings with an emotional response that is similar to that person’s feelings

Moral Identity

an aspect of personality that is present when individuals have moral notions and commitments that are central to their lives

Moral exemplars

people who have led exemplary lives

have a moral personality, identity, character, and set of virtues that reflect moral excellence and commitment.

Social domain theory

states that there are different domains of social knowledge and reasoning, including moral, social conventional, and personal domains.

Social conventional reasoning

focuses on conventional rules that have been established by social consensus in order to control behavior and maintain the social system.

Love withdrawal

a parent withholds attention or love from the adolescent.

Power assertion

•a parent attempts to gain control over the adolescent or the adolescent’s resources.

Induction

a parent uses reason and explains how antisocial activities are likely to affect others.

Hidden curriculum

the pervasive moral atmosphere that characterizes every school

Character education

a direct education approach that involves teaching students a basic moral literacy to prevent them from engaging in immoral behavior and doing harm to themselves or others

Values clarification

a second approach to providing moral education that involves helping individuals to identify their purpose in life and to determine what outcomes are worth working for

Service learning

a form of education that promotes social responsibility and service to the community

An important goal is that adolescents become less self-centered and more strongly motivated to help others.

Values

beliefs and attitudes about the way things should be

Religion

is an organized set of beliefs, practices, rituals, and symbols that increases an individual’s connection to a sacred or transcendent other

Spirituality

involves experiencing something beyond oneself in a transcendent manner and living in a way that benefits others and society.

Religiousness

refers to the degree of affiliation with an organized religion, participation in its prescribed rituals and practices, connection with its beliefs, and involvement in a community of believers.