Relationship between prosocial moral reasoning, prosocial behavior, family functioning and social maturity in pre-primary school children
Master Thesis
1985
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
The purpose of this correlation study was to attempt to account for differences in pre-schoolers moral reasoning about altruistic conflicts on the basis of healthier types of family functioning and greater degrees of· social maturity: to show whether these differences are reflected in an increase in prosocial behavior. Thirty-eight pre-school boys and girls responded to four simple moral stories about helping and sharing. (Moral R.). All responses of the children were coded by the researcher and an independent coder. Assessment of the extent of the children's own naturally occurring prosocial behavior was by the completion of a Likert-type rating scale (Pros. B.R.) by the teachers of the school. It was hypothesized that the use of more mature levels of moral reasoning would account for more prosocial behavior. Results confirmed the hypothesis. Family functioning was measured by the Family Assessment Device questionnaire (F.A.D.) and individually completed by all the mothers and fathers. The hypothesis that healthier family functioning patterns would reflect use of higher levels of moral reasoning was partially supported. The measurement of the extent of social maturity of each child was by means of a semi-structured interview with the mothers and utilizing the Vineland Social Maturity Scale (V.S.M.). It was hypothesized that healthier patterns of family functioning would foster greater social maturity. Results obtained did not support this hypothesis. Other hypotheses were; (a) that greater social maturity would account for the use of more mature levels of moral reasoning: this hypothesis was confirmed, (b) that greater social maturity would be related to increased prosocial behavior: results confirmed this hypothesis, (c) that increased prosocial behavior would be reflected by healthier patterns of family functioning: results did not support this hypothesis. As measurement was of an ordinal nature Spearman's non-parametric rank correlation was utilized. A subsidiary study was conducted in which the children's moral reasoning was examined by way of their dominant modal response. None of the pre-schoolers used the Kohlberg stage 1 authority and punishment as their modal response. Much hedonistic and needs-oriented reasoning was used. Spearman's rank correlation was used to examine relationships between the categories of moral reasoning. The use of hedonistic reasoning was negatively related to both needs orientation and stereotypic reasoning. Other relationships did not reach statistical significance.
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Bibliography: leaves 199-213.
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Whiting, G. 1985. Relationship between prosocial moral reasoning, prosocial behavior, family functioning and social maturity in pre-primary school children. University of Cape Town.