About this Research Topic
Extensive research exploring the development of morality has documented the early emergence of youth’s concerns for fairness, equity and justice. Simultaneously, research informed by social psychology has demonstrated that children are aware of their group memberships (e.g. groups based on gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, culture) and identify with in-groups from early childhood. The interplay between concerns for morality and desires to promote one’s in-group identity has important consequences for the decisions that youth make about who to include, when to challenge prejudice and how to distribute valued resources. Group membership and social norms have been the source of many different kinds of contemporary conflicts, further stressing the importance of understanding the developmental roots of decision-making processes related to morality, norms and group membership.
Recent advances in the field have documented that youth take into consideration both moral concerns and group norms when making decisions about inclusion, resource allocation and prosocial behavior. This research topic aims to contribute to this growing body of literature.
We welcome papers with a focus on the reasoning, social cognition and behavior that underlies the interplay between group norms and moral development. We especially welcome research from underrepresented parts of the world.
Some of the questions that we wish to consider (as an example, not limited to):
• How do different types of norms (e.g. cultural norms, gender norms, local peer group norms) impact moral decision-making?
• How do youth use reasoning in situations that require coordination of competing group norms and moral principles?
• How do different identities and their related norms intersect to inform moral decision-making?
• How do norms become contested and change over time?
• How does reasoning about norms and moral considerations affect behavior?
• How do established and elaborated identities differ from minimal group paradigms induced for the purpose of a study?
We solicit contributions that examine the interplay between group norms and moral development across the developmental lifespan and around the world. Papers that examine reasoning and social cognitions, especially those examining the relation with behavior, are encouraged. These papers may examine issues related to social inclusion/exclusion, resource allocation, bystander intentions, helping, prosocial behaviour, welfare, wealth inequality, but are not limited to these topics. We invite authors to propose original research articles, brief research reports, methods papers (including advances in measuring or analysing reasoning and cognitions), and review articles.
Recent advances in the field have documented that youth take into consideration both moral concerns and group norms when making decisions about inclusion, resource allocation and prosocial behavior. This research topic aims to contribute to this growing body of literature.
We welcome papers with a focus on the reasoning, social cognition and behavior that underlies the interplay between group norms and moral development. We especially welcome research from underrepresented parts of the world.
Some of the questions that we wish to consider (as an example, not limited to):
• How do different types of norms (e.g. cultural norms, gender norms, local peer group norms) impact moral decision-making?
• How do youth use reasoning in situations that require coordination of competing group norms and moral principles?
• How do different identities and their related norms intersect to inform moral decision-making?
• How do norms become contested and change over time?
• How does reasoning about norms and moral considerations affect behavior?
• How do established and elaborated identities differ from minimal group paradigms induced for the purpose of a study?
We solicit contributions that examine the interplay between group norms and moral development across the developmental lifespan and around the world. Papers that examine reasoning and social cognitions, especially those examining the relation with behavior, are encouraged. These papers may examine issues related to social inclusion/exclusion, resource allocation, bystander intentions, helping, prosocial behaviour, welfare, wealth inequality, but are not limited to these topics. We invite authors to propose original research articles, brief research reports, methods papers (including advances in measuring or analysing reasoning and cognitions), and review articles.
Keywords: Group Norms; Moral Development; Social Reasoning; Social Cognition; Intergroup Processes
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
