Spirituality and Moral Character Development

William G. Huitt

Valdosta State University

Last Revised: July 2003

Moral Character Development

• Considered important for 1000s of years

• Recent revival of its importance

• Multiple definitions

Moral Character Defined

• “. . . engaging in morally relevant conduct or words, or refraining from certain conduct or words” (Wynne & Walberg, 1984)

• “. . . a complex set of relatively persistent qualities of the individual person, and generally has a positive connotation when used in discussions of moral education” (Pritchard, 1988)

Moral Character Defined• “. . . an individual’s set of psychological

characteristics that affect that person’s ability and inclination to function morally” (Berkowitz, 2002)

• “Character implies moral character and a personality characterized by moral values and feelings (conscience), the ability to reason autonomously, sensitively, and fairly about moral issues (ethical reflection), and the habit of acting in a manner consistent with one’s moral thinking and moral feeling (virtue)” (Vessels, 1998)

Character Is Who You Are

I look inside myself to seeWhat kind of person I want to be.I think and feel and chooseAnd do the best that I can.In the dark or in the lightIt deals with doing the wrong and the right.I’ve got to know and do the rightTo be the best me.

Character Is Who You Are

Character is who you areViewed from within or from afar.It’s the person you becomeAnd who you’re known to be.It’s what you practice everyday.It’s what you do not just what you say.To be a Brilliant StarRemember, character’s who you are.

Character Is Who You Are

I look inside myself to seeWhat kind of person I want to be.I feel and think and chooseAnd do the best that I can.In the dark or in the lightIt deals with doing the wrong and the right.I’ve got to know and do the rightTo be the best me.

Character Is Who You Are

Character is who you areViewed from within or from afar.It’s the person you becomeAnd who you’re known to be.It’s what you practice everyday.It’s what you do not just what you say.Remember, to be a Brilliant StarCharacter’s who you are.

Character Is Who You Are

Character is who you areViewed from within and from afarIt’s the person who you becomeAnd who you’re known to be.It’s what you practice everyday.It’s what you do not just what you say.To be a Brilliant StarRemember, character’s who you are.

Model of Moral Character

Spirituality

• Fundamental to many conceptualizations of human beings– Mind (Thinking, Feeling, Committing)– Body– Spirit

• Spirituality is considered inherent quality of human beings– Naturalism– Pantheism– Theism

Spirituality Defined

• Attempt to understand and connect to the unknowns of the universe or search for meaningfulness in one’s life (Adler, 1932/1980; Frankl, 1959)

• A relationship with the sacred (Beck & Walters, 1977)

• An individual's experience of and relationship with a fundamental, nonmaterial aspect of the universe (Tolan, 2002)

Spirituality Defined

• The exploration of the meaningfulness of our lives and our relationships to ourselves, to others, to nature, or to a higher power (Hamilton & Jackson,1998; Hay & Nye, 1998)

• Does not necessarily require a belief in God, Great Spirit, Supreme Creator, etc., but does not exclude it

Spirituality Defined

• Spirituality not equated with religion

• Religion refers to organized, institutionalized set of beliefs, teachings, and practices established to connect groups of individuals to a particular expression of spirituality

• Can be spiritual without being religious and vice versa

Spiritual Development• In summary, spirituality addresses such

questions as:– How can we increase meaning in our

lives, in general, and my life, in particular?

– Who are we as human beings? Where did we come from? How are we related?

– Are we in control of our lives or is our destination a result of fate?

Spiritual Development• In summary, spirituality addresses such

questions as: – Where did the universe come from?

What are its origins?

– Is there a God (in whatever way we define or know a Supreme Being)?

– What is our relationship to God or the Creator, if there is one?

– Is there a continuity of life after this life? If so, what is it like?

Relational Consciousness

• Relational consciousness may describe the essence of spirituality (Hay & Nye, 1998)

• A type of metacognitive activity that describes ever increasing consciousness of growth and opportunity consequences for the individual.

Relational Consciousness

• Development is considered moving from – simple to complex – naïve to sophisticated– insecurity to confidence

Relational Consciousness

• Described in terms of the relational aspects of – self– others – nature – universal unknowns (including or

excluding God or Creator)

Spirituality & Moral Character

• Relational consciousness as the basis for moral character

• Three categories of spiritual sensitivity– awareness-sensing (flow, focus)– mystery-sensing (wonder, awe,

imagination)

– value-sensing (ultimate meaning & identity)

Spirituality & Moral Character

• RC theory explicitly states

– a cognitive/thinking factor– an affective/emotional factor– a social factor– a transcendent factor

• RC theory implicitly states

– a conative/volitional factor– a behavioral factor

Model of Moral Character

Ecology of Development

Impacting Moral Character

• Work to establish affirming, secure environment among family, school, and other institutions

• Develop explicit curriculum that focuses on virtues, moral principles, and social skills – moral thinking (knowledge base & processes)– valuing– committing

– behaving

Vessel’s Curriculum

• Personal Integrity– Kindness (knowing how others feel;

making others feel better)– Courage (being strong enough to do right

when afraid to do so)– Ability (having skills to figure out what is

right and wrong and behave accordingly)– Effort (striving for excellence;

perseverance)

Vessel’s Curriculum

• Social Integrity– Friendship (making and maintaining friends;

treating others as you want to be treated)– Teamwork (helping to achieve group goals;

working well with others)– Citizenship (following rules and laws; trying to

make self and community better)

Example

Gardner’s Intelligences

• Verbal/Linguistic

• Logical/Mathematical

• Visual/Spatial

• Bodily/Kinesthetic

• Musical/Rhythmic

• Interpersonal

• Intrapersonal

• Naturalist Intelligence

References

• Adler, A. (1932/1980). What life should mean to you. London: George Allen & Unwin.• Beck, P., & Walters, A. (1977). The sacred: Ways of knowledge, sources of life.

Tsaile, AZ: Navajo Community College.• Berkowitz, M. (2002). The science of character education. In W. Damon (Ed.),

Bringing in a new era in character education (43-63). Stanford, CA: Hoover Institute Press.

• Frankl, V (1959). Man's search for meaning. New York: Praeger. • Hamilton, D., and Jackson, M. (1998). Spiritual development: Paths and processes.

Journal of Instructional Psychology, 25(4), 262-270.• Hay, D., with Nye, R. (1998). The spirit of the child. London: Fount.• Pritchard, I. (1988). Character education: Research prospects and problems.

American Journal of Education, 96(4), 469-495.• Tolan, S. (202). Spirituality and the highly gifted adolescent. Charlotte, NC: Author.

Retrieved July 2002, from http://www.stephanietolan.com/spirituality.htm• Vessels, G. (1998). Character and community development: A school planning and

teacher training handbook. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. (see http://www.characterthroughthearts.org/main.html)

• Wynne, E., & Walberg, H. (Eds.). (1984). Developing character: Transmitting knowledge. Posen, IL: ARL.