Examines changes in patterns of prosocial motivation between grades 2 and 12 in samples from West Germany, Poland, Italy, and the United States. Uses a questionnaire to assess within-subject preference for 5 prosocial motives: hedonism, self-interest, conformity, task orientation, and other-orientation. (MW)

Reviews research on interpersonal and moral development of urban and rural students and young adults in Iceland, the United States, Europe, Japan, and China. Asserts that knowledge structures used to make meaning in a socio-moral conflict situation are highly dependent on the culture. (CFR)

Reports on a study of views of friendship among 20 5- and 6-year-old British students. Finds that boys and girls were able to interpret friendships as transactions. Also finds differences between boys and girls on their understanding of "bad friends." (CFR)

Discusses how a prisoner applied education in psychology to his own $2 N:4rehabilitation. Argues that any motivated inmate student can find moral and ethical growth and development in the study of psychology. Suggests how some developmental theories relate to the inmate's life and evolution from guilt and blame to self-acceptance. (DK)

Outlines an instructional approach for teaching moral thinking, based on considering consequences of alternative options. Discusses R. M. Hare's two-level theory of moral thinking, and cautions against relying solely on critical thinking for moral education. Suggests students must learn open-minded thinking, be aware of the consequences of their…

Discusses what teachers should do when older elementary students lie. Guidelines for handling the situation are presented along with suggestions for making children feel good about telling the truth. Three activities for encouraging truthfulness in the classroom are suggested. (SM)

In light of recent demands for teaching moral values in the public schools, examines the history and success of such efforts in U.S. education, from Bible-based curricula to self-esteem training and students' rights movements. Suggests guidelines for choosing and implementing principles of good conduct in schools. (CJS)

Compared 16 fourth- and fifth-grade boys who participated in Discovery, developmental program in which students with history of inappropriate classroom behaviors acted as peer tutors for kindergarten students, to 16 control participants. Found no significant increase in moral development among Discovery participants but did find significant…

Reports on a longitudinal study of four toddlers and the relationship of the development of moral awareness to maternal communications. Concludes that a 17-18-month period is a crucial transition period and calls for research into the relationship between emotional development and moral awareness. (CFR)

Asserts that today's students must cope with considerable hostility and find the courage to survive aggression (e.g., through organized religion). Without religion in schools, educators lose values that teach children to be ethical, contributing citizens. Teachers must be leaders in moral development in order to help students understand how their…

Examines the topic of character education, with specific references to the Fall 1996 National Council on the Social Studies (NCSS) Position Statement on Character Education. The NCSS emphasized the connection between character education and citizenship education and recommended that both be integrated into curriculum and instruction. (MJP)

Describes evolving efforts to promote African American children's social and emotional competencies, examining moral competence. Proposes a cultural psychology framework to highlight the theme of communalism and morality of care. Identifies various moral events, offering knowledge of moral emotions and moral self-efficacy as key constructs.…

Maintains that universities have a responsibility to engender "..some sense of minimum universal values" in their students and to influence the adoption and promotion of these values in their lives. Considers ways that a university can accomplish this goal through a code of ethics, innovative management, and the impact of senior teams.…

Analyzes morality as lived, and morality as rationality of thought in pre-school children. Argues that small children have a morality, but that it is lived rather than reflected upon. Highlights the importance of the ontological basis and its role in determining what becomes possible for a researcher to study. (Contains 12 references.) (NB)

Investigates teachers views of forgiveness and institutional pardon for conflict resolution at school. Asks questions related to forgiveness and forgiving. Shows that teachers endorse forgiveness as social expectation, a humanitarian, moral response to conflicts at conventional levels. Argues that teachers do notperceive forgiveness as related to…