Part 1 (20 Points)
Read the case study below and answer the 3 questions thoughtfully. Use at least 1 scholarly source to support your answers.
Joaquin is a caregiver for a group of eight-year-olds. He would like to change the way some children react when there are problems among them. Danisha, the youngest boy in the group, never does anything wrong, but when someone else misbehaves, he loudly says, “You’re going to get in trouble for that.” Emily maintains control over her two friends by threatening, “I won’t invite you to my birthday party if you don’t do what I want!” Joaquin understands that Danisha is trying to be good and wants Joaquin to notice him, but also to punish the wrong-doers. Emily maintains control by doing what generations of children have done: withholding a promised pleasure. Joaquin knows these behaviors are not healthy for any of the children and wants to help them change.
1. Why are the children reacting this way?
2. Joaquin wants to reinforce the importance of rules as well as to help the children move on to a higher plane of morality. What could he say to the children?
3. When you are faced with helping children make decisions about good or bad behavior, what do you want them to learn?
Part 2 (20 Points)
To focus your attention on values that are important to different cultures: discuss the criticism that Kohlberg’s theory is based on Western values. Share information about your own families. What were the kinds of things expected of you as children? Do those values reflect your culture? Are they different from Western values? If there are any, how have you resolved the conflict between your own family values and the values supported by Western society?
