SOCIAL AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT ANALYSIS CASE STUDY

Social and Moral Development (Ch. 4) Analysis Questions:

1. From a social development standpoint, how might we explain Laura's preoccupation with her appearance? In particular, consider this statement by Laura: "I don't want people to think I'm a geek!" Include information from Erikson's theory and social development in general in your response.

Laura is in between both the Industry vs. Inferiority and Identity vs. Role Confusion stages of Erikson's theory. She is still developing and dealing with the new demands that are being put on her in the junior high level of academics. She is having to learn new skills and applying those in the classroom. She also seems to be in the stage of still developing her personal character and applying that in the interaction of her peers. She has not found her identity within herself and worries more about what she tends to look like to other people other than how she feels herself. She is more worried about pleasing other people then worrying about her own needs and how she can come to meet those needs. Adolescents in the junior high level don't have the greatest logic when it comes to dealing with adaptation and new changes in this age group. Junior high students often struggle with trying to fit in with their peers and dealing with the criticism of others. Girls are more often found to be struggling with their other friends that are female due to the fact that adolescents of this particular age group often blow things out of proportion and make a bigger deal out of something small.

2. In suggesting that Laura join the debating class, Ms. Watkins is hoping to pique an interest in classroom subject matter by capitalizing on Laura's desire to be the center of attention. What two other strategies might the school faculty use to motivate students who seem to be more interested in social matters than in academic pursuits?

By simply suggesting that Laura try something new that is something she would not normally try gives her an opinion from outside her own little world. The counselor might also suggest an athletic activity that would be conducive to Laura's social needs, giving her the opportunity to try something new that motivates her both physically and academically. Most adolescents that are involved in this level of sports they are trying to find themselves at this age group and what motivates them. Local junior highs around this area offer basketball, track, swimming, wrestling, softball, baseball, soccer, and volleyball. Laura would have the opportunity to be the center of attention by excelling in something that would give her an emotional and physical high of appreciation for herself. The counselor might also suggest getting involved with school service organizations such as yearbook, student council, pals, school clubs, etc. where Laura would have the opportunity to develop more reasoning and a sense of self where she can grow into her own person.

3. From the perspective of Kohlberg's theory, in which stage of moral development is Laura? Justify your response. How might Mr. Marcalescu help Laura to advance her moral reasoning?

Laura is in the stage or moral internalization, she lacks the external perspectives to make her own moral reasoning grow. She is internalizing herself so much that she only values others' opinions and what they might think rather than developing her own opinion and having correct justification of her decisions. The teacher will make Laura think outside of the box and force her to form opinions on different matters that don't only relate to her but relate to others as well. Laura does not have her logical reasoning portion of her brain fully developed, she really only thinks in terms of how others view her, not how she affects others. She will gain a sense of self and grow to develop her own opinions about different topics. She will also be able to figure out who she is as an individual and grow on the assumption.

4. In what ways might a debating class contribute to students' cognitive, linguistic, social, and moral development?

This type of class gets the students actively engaged in the lesson and causes them to develop different reasoning to the point where they can form an educated opinion. The cognitive and linguistic reasons for being in this type of class provide students with out of the box thinking and makes the student learn new vocabulary that will cause the linguistic portion of their brain to grow and mature. Socially this type of class will provide new peers to interact with that would not normally interact with each other outside of the classroom, adolescents tend to stick to their own groups of friends in junior high and not expand outside of the box. Morally the reason would have to be that the student could develop a sense of right and wrong or seeing both sides to an argument and forming an educated opinion after hearing both sides of the argument.