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Aggression, Altruism, and Moral Development: Dr. Pelaez
Aggression, Altruism, and Moral Development: Dr. Pelaez
Dr. Pelaez
Development of Aggression
2.
Developmental Trends
Developmental Trends
Sex Differences
By preschool,
aggression was viewed
to be a male attribute
in their gender
schemas. (Watson &
Peng, 1992).
Researchers focus
more on overt rather
than covert behaviors.
Social Learning
Aggressiveness is not
a stable attribute.
Only a small
percentage become
chronically aggressive.
Proactive Aggressors
Confident that
aggression will result
in tangible benefits.
Believe that self
esteem will be
enhanced by being the
dominant one over
other children.
Use of instrumental
strategies to obtain
and achieve personal
goals
Reactive Aggressors
Dodges Social-Information
Processing Model
Passive Children
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Socially withdrawn
Sedentary
Physically weak
Reluctant to fight
back
Do not defend
themselves.
Invite hostilities
by not acting.
Proactive Children
Oppositional
2. Restless
3. High tempered
4. Inclined to fight
back to
aggressors
5. Involved in
various fighting
situations.
1.
Socioeconomic Class
Pre-Adolescence
Rejection by
school peers
Criticized by
teachers
Poor academics
Poor attendance
Exposure to other
deviant groups
Developmental Paths
Developmental Paths
2.
3.
Play areas to
minimize conflict
Provide space for
vigorous play to
avoid accidents
Proven Methods
1.
Incompatible response
technique-ignoring
undesirable conduct while
reinforcing acts unrelated
to these conducts.
2.
Decrease incidence
of proactive
aggression by
identifying and
eliminating
reinforcing
consequences.
Origins of Altruism
Mothers of uncompassionate
toddlers use coercive tactics
(verbal consequences or physical
punishment) to discipline undesirable
behaviors.
Hedonistic
Needs Oriented
Empathic orientation
Adolescence
Become increasingly
responsive to the
needs wishes and
concerns of other
individuals
Less self centered.
FeltResponsibility
Hypothesis: the
theory that
empathy may
promote altruism
by causing one
to reflect on
altruistic norms
and thus to feel
some obligation
to help
distressed
others.
Most Altruistic
Less industrialized
societies
Large families
Children contribute to
family matters
Suppressed
individualism
Less Altruistic
Western Culture
competition of
individual rather than
group goals
Few responsibilities in
family
Reinforcing Altruism
Children who are offered tangible rewards for their prosocial acts are not especially altruistic because they
attribute their kind acts to a desire to earn incentives,
rather than to a concern for others welfare and are
less likely to make sacrifices for others when the
rewards stop.
Studies of unusually
charitable adults indicate
they have enjoyed a
warm and affectionate
relationship with parents
who themselves were
highly concerned with
the welfare of others.
Parental reactions to a
childs harm doing also
play an important role in
the development of
altruism.
What is Morality?
1.
2.
3.
Cognitive-Developmental Theory:
The Child as Moral Philosopher
decline in egocentrism
development of role-taking skills
Kohlbergs Theory:
Level 1- Pre-conventional Morality
Stage 1: Punishment & Obedience TrainingThe goodness and badness of an act all depends
on the consequences.
Stage 2: Nave Hedonism- individual conforms
to rules in order to gain rewards or satisfy
personal goals.
Kohlbergs Theory:
Level 2 Conventional Morality
Kohlbergs Theory:
Level 3 Post-conventional Morality
Stage 5: The Social Contract OrientationIndividual sees the laws as tools for expressing
the will of the majority of human welfare.
Stage 6: Morality of Individual Principles of
Conscience- individual defines right and wrong
on the basis of the self chosen ethical principles
of his or her conscience.
Adapted
Theory may be culturally biased in that postconventional morality does not exist in some
societies. Critics claim that the theorys highest
stages reflect a Western ideal of justice and does
not account for the values of collectivist societies.
Gilligan (1982, 1993) argues that the theory
does not adequately represent female moral
reasoning (morality of justice vs. morality of
care).
Another common criticism is that the theory
focuses too much on moral reasoning and
neglects moral affect and behavior.
The theory also underestimates the moral
reasoning of young children.
Simple disobedience
Causing physical harm to others
Causing physical harm to oneself
Causing psychological harm to others
Causing physical damage