Self control PSYC 3030

Overview of Class Topics and Schedule

  • Morality and Moral Development

    • Discussion on moral understanding, reasoning, and development

    • Upcoming class topics include family relationships and parenting

    • Specific schedule notes:

    • Class canceled on Birthday

    • Chapter completion scheduled for next Tuesday

    • Influences beyond family will be discussed on Thursday, December 4th with assignments related to exam 5.

Exam Information

  • LockDown Browser Issues

    • Reminder to ensure the latest version of the LockDown Browser is installed

    • Restart computer if issues arise during exam

    • Exiting the exam doesn’t incur penalties if not submitted

  • Grade Calculation

    • Students encouraged to calculate projected grades in Canvas

    • All assignments and participation points entered into the system

    • Lowest scores will be dropped:

    • One lowest assignment score

    • Participation scores are adjusted to fit the 120-point system

Assignment and Exam Details

  • Upcoming Assignments and Exams

    • Assignment 4 is live and will focus on parenting

    • Final Exam availability:

    • Open for a full week from December 4th, 09:15 AM to December 11th, 11:59 PM

    • Standard time limit for the exam is 75 minutes, longer for those with accommodations

    • No extensions or exceptions for this exam

    • Technical issues or early exit protocols in place

Self-Control and Moral Development

  • Definition of Self-Control

    • Self-control is the ability to manage one's behavior and resist impulsive actions

    • Relevant to various childhood development stages

  • Development of Self-Control

    • Emerges at different ages:

    • Children begin to exhibit self-control by age 1

    • By age 3, they engage in self-regulation to control behavior.

    • Important for safety and societal expectations

  • Instant vs Delayed Gratification

    • Instant Gratification: Immediate reward preference

    • Delayed Gratification: Ability to wait for a more favorable reward

    • Illustrated by the famous Marshmallow Test:

      • Children’s choices between immediate and promised rewards observed

      • Older children demonstrate improved patience and self-control

    • Research findings: Delayed gratification linked to better future outcomes including educational achievement

  • Replication Crisis in Psychology

    • Discussion on studies’ reproducibility regarding self-control and related theories

    • Socioeconomic status as a greater predictor of self-control than willpower, especially in lower socio-economic groups

  • Influences on Self-Control Development

    • Parenting Styles: Warm and loving parenting coupled with clear guidelines promotes better self-control

    • Temperament: Naturally predisposed characteristics affect self-control levels

    • Cognitive Skills: Strategies for distraction, self-talk, and emotion regulation contribute to self-control

Moral Reasoning and Development

  • Stages of Moral Development:

    • Preconventional Level: Obedience and self-interest orientated

    • Stage 1: Obedience orientation (authority-following)

    • Stage 2: Instrumental orientation (self-interest, future reciprocity)

    • Conventional Level: Based on social norms and law understanding

    • Stage 3: Interpersonal norms (expectation of being good)

    • Stage 4: Social systems morality (laws and social order)

    • Postconventional Level: Personal moral principles developed

    • Stage 5: Social contract orientation

    • Stage 6: Universal ethics principles

  • Kohlberg's Moral Dilemmas

    • Example involving Heinz dilemma analyzed regarding moral reasoning rather than decision outcome

    • Emphasis on moral reasoning development linked to age and cognitive ability

  • Critiques of Kohlberg's Theory

    • Variability in moral reasoning and cultural differences

    • Inconsistency of moral reasoning across different situations

    • Evidence supporting social factors and peer expectations influencing moral judgments

Helping Others and Altruism

  • Prosocial Behavior: Actions benefitting others

    • Importance of altruism: Acts without direct benefit to oneself, driven by social and emotional cues

  • Factors Influencing Altruistic Behavior

    • Perspective-Taking Skills: Ability to understand others' needs increases altruism

    • Feelings of Responsibility: More likely to help known individuals versus strangers

    • Situational Factors: Mood influences willingness to help, and contextual cost considerations play a role in altruistic actions

  • Parental Influence: Parenting styles affecting altruistic behavior through modeling and communication

Aggression as a Concept

  • Definition of Aggression: Behavior intended to harm others

    • Types of aggression:

    • Instrumental aggression: goal-oriented harm

    • Reactive aggression: responding to provocation

    • Relational aggression: aiming to harm social relationships (e.g., through gossip)

  • Longitudinal Studies and Aggression

    • Childhood aggression often leads to continued aggressive behavior later in life, including adverse school and social outcomes

    • Influences: biological factors (genetics, hormones), environmental factors (parenting styles, peer group norms)

  • Prevention and Interventions: Importance of addressing aggressive behaviors through educational and parenting strategies

Conclusion

  • Upcoming discussions will delve deeper into specific aggression studies and intervention models.