Peer influence and moral decision-making in undergraduate cliques.

摘要

Of the factors influencing the development of the 18-21 year old traditional college student, once in college, the peer group is the most powerful. The student peer group provides a forum for sharing concerns, fears, and resentments--all feelings common during late adolescence. As undergraduates struggle with developmental tasks, the issues of conformity and peer influence can affect the choices students make. This study examined the nature of peer influence on moral decision-making among undergraduate friendship groups.;Three male and three female cliques, each consisting of four undergraduates, composed the sample for this study. Participants were interviewed individually to gain knowledge about the values and functioning of each clique. During the same interview participants were given Form A of Lawrence Kohlberg's Moral Judgment Interview (MJI) to assess their levels of moral reasoning. Within two weeks of the individual interview each clique was brought together to discuss two hypothetical dilemmas taken from Forms B and C of the MJI. The participants' levels of moral reasoning expressed during the individual interviews were compared with the levels of moral reasoning expressed during the group discussions to determine if the group setting affected the level of moral judgment. The clique discussions were evaluated to determine each participant's level of moral reasoning and rate of participation.;The analysis of the data suggest that: (1) undergraduates will consistently reason at a lower moral stage when placed in a group discussion among close friends; (2) within cliques, possession of the highest level of moral reasoning is not a requisite characteristic for clique leadership; (3) clique leadership positions are not held by persons with the lowest level of moral reasoning; (4) sustained exposure to higher moral reasoning is required for there to be advancement of moral stage following an educational intervention; (5) propinquity and shared interests are the key factors in initially drawing undergraduates into a friendship group; and (6) topics or issues that could be divisive or troublesome to group members were avoided in daily conversation to protect friendships among clique members.