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TEACHING ETHICAL BEHAVIOR. ETHICAL BEHAVIOR CAN BE TAUGHT:. THROUGH LAWS BY HONOR CODES BY TEACHING VALUES IN SCHOOLS BY PARENTS TEACHING VALUES THROUGH BOOKS THROUGH RHETORIC BY SOCIETY’S LEADERS BY TELEVISION SHOWS AND MOVIES.
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ETHICAL BEHAVIOR CAN BE TAUGHT: • THROUGH LAWS • BY HONOR CODES • BY TEACHING VALUES IN SCHOOLS • BY PARENTS TEACHING VALUES • THROUGH BOOKS • THROUGH RHETORIC BY SOCIETY’S LEADERS • BY TELEVISION SHOWS AND MOVIES
EVEN WHEN PEOPLE AGREE ON THE VALUES TO BE TAUGHT, THEY MAY DISAGREE ON: • THE BEST METHODS FOR TEACHING THEM AND/OR • A PARTICULAR VALUE’S PRIORITY VIS-A-VIS ANOTHER VALUE WITH WHICH IT MAY CONFLICT IN ANY GIVEN SITUATION
ARE THERE BIOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS FOR ETHICAL/MORAL BEHAVIOR IN HUMAN BEINGS?
ADULT BEHAVIOR VIS-A-VIS THE DEVELOPMENT OF LYING BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN
IN THE USA, ADULTS ARE USUALLY EMPHATIC WITH THEIR CHILDREN ABOUT THE DESIRABILITY OF NOT LYING • BUT ADULTS ALSO REPRIMAND CHILDREN FOR “BLURTING OUR THE WHOLE TRUTH”
ADULTS ALSO BELIEVE THEY ARE ENRICHING THE LIVES OF CHILDREN BY TELLING THEM (SOMETIMES IN GREAT DETAIL) ABOUT: • SANTA CLAUS • THE TOOTH FAIRY • THAT STORKS BRING BABIES • THAT “GRANDPA JUST WENT ON A VERY LONG VACATION” • THAT WHEATIES WILL MAKE YOU BIG AND STRONG
THAT A BLOB OF BLUE PAINT IS A “GREAT LOOKING GRASSHOPPER” • THAT THE DRIBBLER HIT BACK TO THE PITCHER IS A “GREAT HIT” • THAT THERE IS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT BOOKS WHICH PORTRAY WOMEN RIDING IN THE SKY ON BROOMSTICKS; WOLVES WHO DRESS UP LIKE GRANDMOTHERS; OR PIGS AND BEARS WHO ARE VERBALLY FLUENT
SO THE MESSAGE KIDS LEARN IS: • WE DON’T WANT YOU TO LIE, BUT LYING IS APPROPRIATE IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS AND YOU NEED TO LEARN WHEN LIES ARE HARMFUL AND WHEN THEY ARE CALLED FOR.
WE DON’T KNOW EXACTLY HOW THIS MESSAGE IS TAUGHT, BUT MOST OF US LEARN IT--SOONER OR LATER BY: • WATCHING CAREGIVERS • GETTING REWARDS/PUNISHMENTS FOR CERTAIN BEHAVIORS; WHEN THE CHILD IS OLD ENOUGH TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE RULES OF COURTESY, HE OR SHE MAY FIND IT COSTLY NOT TO LIE
PLAYING GAMES WHICH SANCTION DECEPTION AND USUALLY HAVE LITTLE EMOTIONAL INVESTMENT ASSOCIATED WITH THEM--LIKE OLD MAID, BUTTON-BUTTON, HEARTS, BASKETBALL, ETC. • PRACTICE--E.G., NOT SHOWING YOUR TEACHER HOW ANGRY YOU ARE FOR FEAR OF ADDITIONAL PUNISHMENT