H14 Moral development

Moral domain

an area of social knowledge based on concepts of right and wrong, fairness, justice, and individual rights; these concepts apply across contexts and supersede rules or authority

societal domain

an area of social knowledge that encompasses concepts regarding the rules and conventions through which societies maintain order

personal domain

an area of social knowledge that pertains to actions in which individual preferences are the main consideration; there are no right or wrong choices

conscience

an internal regulatory mechanism that increases an individual’s ability to conform to standards of conduct accepted in their culture

prosocial behavior

voluntary behavior intended to benefit another, such as helping, sharing with, and comforting others

primary prevention

a program targeting all individuals in a particular setting (e.g., a school) in order to prevent the occurrence of a problematic behavior or condition

secondary prevention

a program designed to help individuals at risk for developing a problem or condition, with the goal of preventing the problem or condition

tertiary intervention

a program designed to help individuals who already exhibit a problem or condition

antisocial behavior

disruptive, hostile, or aggressive behavior that violates social norms or rules and that harms or takes advantage of others

aggression

behavior aimed at physically or emotionally harming or injuring others

instrumental aggression

aggression motivated by the desire to obtain a concrete goal

oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)

a disorder characterized by age-inappropriate and persistent displays of angry, defiant, and irritable behaviors

conduct disorder (CD)

a disorder that involves severe antisocial and aggressive behaviors that inflict pain on others or involve destruction of property or denial of the rights of others

reactive aggression

emotionally driven, antagonistic aggression sparked by one’s perception that other people’s motives are hostile

proactive aggression

unemotional aggression aimed at fulfilling a need or desire

positive youth development

an approach to youth intervention that focuses on developing and nurturing strengths and assets rather than on correcting weaknesses and deficits

service learning

a strategy for promoting positive youth development that integrates school-based instruction with community involvement in order to promote civic responsibility and enhance learning