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¶ … moral development would account for the behavior of the child you selected from Juvenile Justice: In the Child's Best Interest. Be specific and cite the relevant theories.
Joshua: Moral development
Joshua is in an extremely difficult situation. He is currently being treated in a residential treatment center. In terms of his moral development, Joshua seems able to perceive the needs of others, as he acknowledges that it is better for his family that he is being treated away from home for his defiant and delinquent behavior. He says that he is sacrificing himself for their welfare, which shows he has moved beyond a purely egocentric view of the world (Alberts, Elkind, & Ginsberg 2007:71-72). Egocentrism is the inability to perceive the separation of the self from other objects and the inability to acknowledge the different needs of others that can occasionally clash with...
Very young children exhibit extreme egocentrism, and letting go of this egocentrism is necessary for higher moral and intellectual development.
Kohlberg's first stage of moral evaluation is when the child appreciates consequences only in terms of punishment: the child is not concerned whether his actions are morally right or wrong (Crain 2010: 160). Joshua has moved beyond this stage, but is still not above 'acting out' when angry and challenged. He seems to be in a Stage 3, orientation, which prioritizes social and family relationships. Joshua wants good relationships with his peer group and above all his family, but has difficulties with impulse control that make it challenging for him to obey social norms. Joshua seems concerned about the ramifications of his actions as they affect his family, not in terms of how they affect larger society, and thus has not moved on to Stage 4…
Joshua's mother seems loving and concerned, and is sad that her son cannot spend the holidays with the family, however difficult his behavior might be. In the film, the extent of Joshua's acting out is not detailed, although it is noted that it is not necessarily worse than other children who are never put in 'the system' at all. The judge blames Joshua's blended family as the cause of his interpersonal difficulties. There seem to be relatively few obvious reasons for Joshua's acting-out -- d espite the judge's assertion that divorce and reconstituted families can contribute to delinquency, overall the family does not seem to be extremely dysfunctional, nor it is clear why Joshua's behavior is so egregious it cannot be corrected while Joshua remains at home. Joshua's signs of remorse also suggest he has a conscience and thus he is far from a hardened sociopath or narcissistic.
This is interesting, given the commonly-shared belief that juvenile delinquents tend to operate on a State 1 or Stage 2 level of the Kohlberg scale of moral reasoning. They either fear punishment or believe the rules are enforced because others say so, without seeing a larger purpose (Leenders & Brugman 2005: 66). Joshua seems to defy this notion by showing real moral compunction at the pain he has been causing his family. However, it should be noted that Joshua seems to regret his actions because they make others feel bad (as well as himself). He does not see his behavior as bad in the contest of a larger moral system.
Kohlberg's system of different stages of moral development is often used to suggest that children who are delinquent are insufficiently developed 'morally' just like
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