We tend to believe that morality is knowing the difference between right and wrong. But it's so much more. It's the basis for how we live, because each of us has a unique sense of morality. This week, we look at how morality is developed in children and how we can ensure they become moral adults.

Our guest for the entire episode is Melanie Killen. She's a professor of human development and quantitative methodology and the associate director for the Center for Children, Relationships, and Culture at the University of Maryland. She's been studying morality for decades and has shared her knowledge in academic papers, books, and even network television.

But what's the origin of morality? There’s no set age but it is thought to have a few phases. One happens to be the terrible twos. While we may think children are simply acting out to get attention, we find out that they are attempting to develop their own sense of self along with their morality. We also explore another notable phase, the teenage rebel. This time is necessary for a child to develop their own independence and start the path to adulthood.

We then explore the process of developing morality in children. We know authority is an important part of this growing process. However, our interactions with our peers drives how those lessons are absorbed and eventually used in our own sense of morality. From bargaining and compromise to threats and bribes, children identify what they believe is not just right and wrong, but also fair and just. Depending on how these interactions occur, morality may become inclusive or exclusive, leading to prejudice and discrimination later in life.  

In our SASS Class, we learn how to help develop good morality in children through Killen’s project known as Developing Inclusive Youth. It’s a program that allows children to witness various social inequalities and then provides them the opportunity to talk about their viewpoints based on personal experience. The goal is to give children a chance to develop morality as a part of society and the results have shown to be quite positive.

Contact:

Twitter: @JATetro
Email: [email protected]

Guests:

Melanie Killen
Web: www.killenlab.umd.edu

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