Re: Technology and Moral Development -- EDPR 7/8112 Adolescence Sec. 001 0500-0800 R

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Date Posted: 18:33:26 03/13/07 Tue
Author: Erie Martha Roberts
Subject: Re: Technology and Moral Development
In reply to: Tish Colvin 's message, "Technology and Moral Development" on 08:28:13 03/13/07 Tue

I think this is a really interesting anecdote and provides a new way of looking at the difference between moral thoughts and moral behavior. Does the fact that it is much harder to see and stop cyber-bullying mean that students who would normally not participate in such behavior do so? In other words, does technology make the gulf between moral reasoning and moral behavior blurrier. Another example I can think of is pirated movies and music. I know many moral people who would never even THINK of stealing a thing normally download and use pirated movies and music without blinking an eye. The technology distances them not only from the victim but also makes it harder for them to get caught. So what does this mean for the moral development of adolescents?

>Cyber-bullying seems to be at the intersection of
>technology and moral development. An article in my
>son�s school newsletter addressed the issue.
>Apparently adolescents have now brought the age-old
>act of bullying classmates into the new era of
>technology. An example includes using a cell phone
>camera to take a picture of a classmate changing
>clothes during gym class. The image, along with
>discouraging remarks, is then forwarded to friends via
>email. Sometimes rude comments are emailed directly
>to the person being bullied. Schools must remain in
>touch with these changing tactics in order to ensure
>the rights of all students. In regard to moral
>development it would seem apparent that the bully
>remains in Kohlberg's stage 1 because he/she is
>egocentric, lacking the ability to imagine him/herself
>in the same position as the person being bullied.
>However, the bully is not obeying the rules in order
>to avoid punishment. Instead he/she imagines he/she
>will never get caught.

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Replies:

[> Re: Technology and Moral Development -- Lauren McAdams, 07:23:49 03/14/07 Wed

It is amazing how our changing technological society has changed everything in our society. This concept of using technology such as camera phones, computers, etc. to bully others is very disturbing. The fact that bullying is becoming a more passive action such as children taking pictures with their camera phones of others changing in the locker room and then showing these pictures to other kids is morally wrong, but because of the passive way that this type of bullying happens, there seems to be a great liklihood that teachers and parents might not find out about it in order to stop it. Morality in our society is not being valued as much today as before and this is a very disturbing fact to me.

>Cyber-bullying seems to be at the intersection of
>technology and moral development. An article in my
>son�s school newsletter addressed the issue.
>Apparently adolescents have now brought the age-old
>act of bullying classmates into the new era of
>technology. An example includes using a cell phone
>camera to take a picture of a classmate changing
>clothes during gym class. The image, along with
>discouraging remarks, is then forwarded to friends via
>email. Sometimes rude comments are emailed directly
>to the person being bullied. Schools must remain in
>touch with these changing tactics in order to ensure
>the rights of all students. In regard to moral
>development it would seem apparent that the bully
>remains in Kohlberg's stage 1 because he/she is
>egocentric, lacking the ability to imagine him/herself
>in the same position as the person being bullied.
>However, the bully is not obeying the rules in order
>to avoid punishment. Instead he/she imagines he/she
>will never get caught.

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