Education in the Moral Domain

By Larry P. Nucci

Book Overview

This book brings together the results of 25 years of research on the domain theory of social cognitive development. On the basis of that research - which shows that morality is a domain distinct from other social values - the author provides concrete suggestions for creating a moral classroom climate, dealing with student discipline, and integrating moral values within the curriculum. Among questions addressed are: Is morality a set of rules we acquire like any other? Are there universal aspects to morality, or is it culture specific? Is there such a thing as moral character? How best can teachers make use of our knowledge about children's moral and social growth in their everyday classroom practices? Integrated answers to these questions result in a comprehensive approach that does not reduce moral education to a process of induction or inculcation, but rather harnesses children's intrinsic motivation to comprehend and master their social worlds.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0521655498
• ISBN13: 9780521655491
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

The psychology of moral development...

I wish I had known about this book a year ago. It would have simplified my search to identify a non-ideological, non-simplistic writer on moral development in children. (From Nucci's references, I have now found others). This is an elegant, thoughtful book.I thought the book was strong throughout, but the parts that stood out were: (1) the clear conceptualization of moral development (e.g., fairness) , as contrasted to the development of conventions (e.g., why we brush our teeth), in children; (2) the clear statement about how culture and information modify moral standards; (3) the role of emotion in morality; and (4) the cognitive development of morality in children. The literature review was fabulous.I was a bit surprised that Carol Gilligan's "ethic of caring" morality was not mentioned more prominently, since Nucci writes so clearly about the development of fairness and justice.This is a superb book, written on a high intellectual level. Other writers I have found compelling have been William Damon, Carolyn Saarni, and Elliot Turiel. (Turiel wrote the foreword to this book.)

The educational must read for teachers and parents alike.

An intelligently written book based on years of research, this is a must read for teachers and parents who want to understand how to foster an environment which will encourage children to develop as thoughtful, caring, reflective human beings. Quickly dispelling the myth that teaching morality is about religious ideals or at odds with the public school system, Nucci sets out to clearly explain how children develop their senses of morality and convention, and then further explains methods by which teachers (and parents) can begin to take advantage of this knowledge. Never preachy or exagerated, this thoughtful work sets out clear examples of classroom application based on research rather than opinion or popular concepts. In short, it will leave you wishing that you had been taught by someone who had read this.

Moral Education: Lessons for Teachers and Parents

Nucci's book on education in the moral domain presents a fresh perspective on this topic which is of special interest to teachers and parents. This book helps you understand how morality gets interwoven with other social values. It makes it clear that you just can't create good children through simplistic approaches to character education. The author's discussions are based on a vast amount of research on this topic. Each chapter is more compelling than the next. The one on morality and religious values presents differences between these two concepts, and discusses ways to conduct moral education without undermining religious faith or promoting a particular set of beliefs. The chapter on morality and culture explains how morality is universal despite vast cultural differences. I especially liked the chapter on privacy and personal choice, which clarifies the relationship between morality and the development of a healthy self-esteem. Throughout this book, applications for teachers and parents are clear, and there are enough examples to give teachers a real sense of what to do in their classrooms. This book is a must read for anyone who cares about children's moral development!