? Everyone has value | Main | building excitement ?
October 23, 2004
Six Stages of Children’s Moral Development
In the book CHILDREN OF CHARACTER, by Steven Carr Reuben, Ph.D. the second chapter is devoted to the six stages of Children’s Moral Development. The author says that we should have “Realistic, age-appropriate expectations of children.
Here is the list:
Stage 1: Might makes right. Power is the key to behavior. The weaker are controlled by the stronger. Many kids and adults still function in this level. They suffer from arrested moral development. Commonly found in children ages 4-5.
Stage 2: An Eye for an Eye: Take equal and exact revenge. Payback. This is the principle of exacting damages in kind for injuries, real or imagined. Everything has to be paid back. At this stage fairness is the key. There is jealousy if things are not equal. If younger brother gets a present when it’s not his birthday, then older sister demands one too. People at this level live lives of moral indignation.
Stage 3: The Moral Mirror of Others: Look for approval
Stage 4: Internalized Ethical Self-Image: Temper Justice with Compassion
Stage 5: Social Obligation: Participate in a larger, more complex group.
Stage 6: Spiritual Democracy and Personal Responsibility: Respect the rights of others.
According to this, President Bush would be in Stage 1 and 2 (War in Iraq) and Governor Pawlenty would also be in Stage 1 and 2. (Ultimatums to Minnesota Native American Tribes in an attempt to take gambling revenue from them) See Saturday, October 23, 2004 Pioneer Press and Star Tribune Articles.
A State’s Conflict of interest:
As stated in the National Indian Gaming Regulatory Act the major goal of the act was “to provide a statutory foundation for Indian gambling operations as a means of promoting economic development, self-sufficiency and strong tribal government.”
In 2001 there were six separate gambling-related bills referred to the Minnesota State Gov Ops committee:
http://www.press-on.net/articles/10-26state_casino.htm
At that time one Republican in the Legislature stated that if they didn't get (the money) one way they would get it another way. So, let’s see, what stage of moral development is that?
State owned Casinos? A for profit government? Isn’t that an attitude of “They have lots of money and I want it.” and “I will get it because I make the laws.” What kind of a message are we sending our children? When Gold was discovered in the Black Hills, the treaty with the Native Americans was all of a sudden deemed no longer appropriate and the U.S. Government decided that it was ok to renegotiate with the tribes to gain the gold. They didn’t renegotiate though, they offered ultimatums.
It was a lose-lose proposition for Native Americans just as these State-owned Casino and expanded state gambling proposals are.
Maybe our society has not learned from history and have not morally developed beyond age 4-5. Well, maybe it's just the people we have elected.
Posted by carl1236 at October 23, 2004 11:16 PM | Attitude