The influence of the gang on the moral judgement of 8 to 11 year old children

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate how great is the influence of the gang on the moral judgement of Maltese children who are in the phase of late childhood. This investigation was based upon the main moral development theories, namely Piaget' s and Kohlberg' s theories, keeping in mind the relevance of the socialisation process in this particular phase of human development. The age and gender variable were investigated. Any differences and similarities between the two school sectors (private and state) were taken into consideration. A questionnaire consisting of 5 short stories, each presenting a moral dilemma situation, was administered to 51 7 boys and 511 girls attending state schools and 301 boys and 122 girls attending private schools, in Year 4, 5 and 6. Results showed that the family still remains the dominant agent which influences the moral judgement of the child. However, in certain circumstances, co-operation and solidarity between children increased with age.