The Question of Development

Abstract

As discussed, conscience formation is not about the acquisition of an arbitrary list of ideal values, morals, principles, and beliefs. For this reason, character traits such as being trustworthy, honest, cooperative, dependable, accountable, and just, will not be the focus of this chapter. The exception is empathy which is considered both an emotion and a virtue. Related literature shows that empathy plays a critical role in moral formation. (I will explore empathy later in the chapter.) Development is not about the acquired standards that one has, but about the process of acquisition and the examination of the standards acquired. Moral development is indeed tied to chronological age but it is also tied to the growing complexity of the environment within which one lives. Only as one's environment expands does the notion of conscience— the self-in-other and the other-in-self— expand as well. This is a sentiment that Holtam (2010) heard from the participants in her research. One participant, Susan, comments.