THE COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF ADULT AND PEER GROUP INFLUENCE ON CHILDREN'S MORAL JUDGMENTS

Abstract

Summary. This paper examines the comparative effects of adult and peer group influence on children's moral judgment development. Little support is found for Piaget's claim that with increasing peer group interaction the authority of the adult becomes less legitimate and influential to the child. The possibility is suggested that the adult exerts increasing influence with age on children's moral judgments, and that perhaps less emphasis should be placed on peer group centred moral education programmes and more stress put on the effectiveness of direct adult intervention.