Читать книгу Developmental Psychopathology - Группа авторов - Страница 88

Socialization and internalization are two processes that contribute to moral development in early childhood. Socialization is when children learn to behave in a socially acceptable way by developing habits, skills, values, and motives deemed appropriate by society. Socialization occurs when children have internalized society’s standards and held them as their own—they no longer blindly obey rules (Grusec & Goodnow, 1994).

The development of a conscience stems from an individual’s internal standards of conduct and begins early in childhood (Thompson, 2014). Individuals learn how to abstain from certain behaviors and, if unable, may experience emotional discomfort. Parenting is highly involved and parents may notice their children need additional guidance. However, children may have already internalized their parents’ standards and act in a way that meets these standards without assistance (Kochanska, Coy, & Murray, 2001). When toddlers have mutually responsive relationships with their mothers, they are more likely to show moral emotions (e.g., guilt, empathy), moral conduct, and moral cognition in their early school years. Overall, one’s conscience can influence moral development by restricting destructive tendencies, promoting compliance with society’s standards, and encouraging prosocial behavior (Eisenberg, 2000).