The Culture of Morality: Social Development, Context, and Conflict - Softcover

Turiel, Elliot

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0521721598 ISBN 13: 9780521721592

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2008

Synopsis

The Culture of Morality examines how explanations of social and moral development inform our understandings of morality and culture. A common theme in the latter part of the twentieth century has been to lament the moral state of American society and the decline of morality among youth. A sharp turn toward an extreme form of individualism and a lack of concern for community involvement and civic participation are often blamed for the moral crisis. Elliot Turiel challenges these views, drawing on a large body of research from developmental psychology, as well as from anthropology and sociology. He also culls from social events, political movements, and journalistic accounts of social and political struggles in many places of the world. Turiel shows that generation after generation has lamented the decline of society and blamed young people. Using historical accounts, he persuasively argues that such characterizations of moral decline entail stereotyping, nostalgia for times past, and a failure to recognize the moral viewpoint of those who challenge traditions. He also argues that people's discontents with the unfairness of many aspects of societal arrangements, traditions, and established practices are often misinterpreted as a lack of commitment to society or community. Going beyond American society, Turiel's penetrating analysis uses examples of social events, political movements, and journalistic accounts of social and political struggles worldwide. He shows how marginalized populations often oppose cultural arrangements, and mobilize to change the societal status quo. This unique study is a thoughtful integration of extensive research; an original approach to moral development, social justice, and culture. Elliot Turiel is Chancellor's Professor in the School of Education and Affiliate in the Department of Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. He has been a Guggenheim Fellow, a Fellow of the National Institute of Mental Health, and a Van Leer Fellow. He is the President of the Jean Piaget Society. Turiel's previous book is The Development of Social Knowledge (Cambridge, 1983), and he has edited or co-edited Culture, Thought and Development (Erlbaum, 2000), Values and Knowledge (Erlbaum, 1997), and Development and Cultural Change (Jossey-Bass, 1999). Within the field of psychology, Turiel is considered one of the leading researchers of moral and social development. His work has served to provide new directions for a number of now-prominent researchers.

About this title

Book Description

This book presents a perspective on moral and social development based on psychological research and philosophical works. The research shows that people make judgments about the welfare of others, fairness, and human rights. People also distinguish morality from the customs and conventions of society and believe that there are legitimate choices or a personal kind. All these judgments do not simply mirror the ways of the culture. People also reflect upon the inequalities in society, such as those based on gender and social class, and impose critical evaluations. People in subordinate positions often oppose cultural practices and work to subvert them. This book presents many examples of such opposition aimed at explaining the complex relations of individuals and society.

About the Author

Elliot Turiel is Chancellor's Professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Berkeley. He is an Affiliate in the Department of Psychology. He served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs (1994-99) and Acting Dean of the Graduate School of Education. He is author of The Development of Social Knowledge: Morality and Convention, and is editor or co-editor of Values and Knowledge, Development and Cultural Change: Reciprocal Processes, and Culture, Thought and Development.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0521721598
• ISBN 13: 9780521721592
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 336