Show-Me 4-H Character Module Two Character Development Theory

Domains of Character COGNITIVE (Intellectual) The “Head” AFFECTIVE Emotional The “Heart” BEHAVIORAL (Conduct) The “Habits”

Character Education Is About Duties, Not Desires  Character education is about teaching young people to know, accept and live up to their moral duties and obligations.  It is not about identifying or pursuing personal preferences and desires.  Character education is about teaching young people to know, accept and live up to their moral duties and obligations.  It is not about identifying or pursuing personal preferences and desires.

More Than Obedience Character education is not about obedience; it is about teaching young people to make sound moral judgments.

What Is Character?

“Character”  In one sense, character is what is inside of us that responds to life.  Our responses come from the habits and dispositions we have learned and developed.  In one sense, character is what is inside of us that responds to life.  Our responses come from the habits and dispositions we have learned and developed.

“Character” Vs. “Good Character”  Everyone has a character, but not everyone has good character.  When we refer to a person’s character, we are concerned with the moral choices he makes, and the virtues he may or may not practice.  A person has good character because he knows the difference between right and wrong, and strives to do what is right for the right reasons.  Everyone has a character, but not everyone has good character.  When we refer to a person’s character, we are concerned with the moral choices he makes, and the virtues he may or may not practice.  A person has good character because he knows the difference between right and wrong, and strives to do what is right for the right reasons.

Showing Our True Character We don’t show our true character by:  Rare acts of moral courage  Single acts of bad behavior We don’t show our true character by:  Rare acts of moral courage  Single acts of bad behavior

We do show our true character every day by:  Our normal and consistent attitudes and behavior.  How we treat people who cannot help us or hurt us. We do show our true character every day by:  Our normal and consistent attitudes and behavior.  How we treat people who cannot help us or hurt us. Showing Our True Character

 Character is how we act when we think no one is watching.  Conscience is the inner voice that warns us someone may be watching.  Character is how we act when we think no one is watching.  Conscience is the inner voice that warns us someone may be watching. Character and Conscience

Character and Reputation  Our reputation is what other people think we are.  Character is what we really are.  Our reputation is what other people think we are.  Character is what we really are.

Sources of Good Character  Character is not inherited, nor is it forever determined by our environment.  We have to be taught character.  Character is not inherited, nor is it forever determined by our environment.  We have to be taught character.

Four Sources of Good Character  Good character comes from: practicing personal discipline in our choices.  Monitoring our thoughts and cultivating good ideals and values.  Having courage.  Determination.  Good character comes from: practicing personal discipline in our choices.  Monitoring our thoughts and cultivating good ideals and values.  Having courage.  Determination.

Building Character When we refer to “building character,” we are concerned with instilling within a person the positive, admirable and ethical traits that are associated with good character.

Three Ways to Build Character  Follow the rules of good behavior.  Develop good habits, which come only through repeated practice.  Provide positive examples.  Follow the rules of good behavior.  Develop good habits, which come only through repeated practice.  Provide positive examples.

Ideas, beliefs and desires that shape the formation of goals, motivate actions and establish criteria for evaluating decisions and conduct. Values

Stated and Operational Values  STATED VALUES: What we say we value and the level of importance we say we attach to the value.  OPERATIONAL VALUES: What we actually value as revealed by our actions and how we make decisions and resolve conflicts among competing values.

Consistency between stated and operational values is a matter of integrity. Integrity Module Two – Character Development Theory© 2004 Josephson Institute

Ethical Values Beliefs about what is right and good based on moral duty and virtue; beliefs about what traits of character and ways of being are morally right and good Nonethical Values Beliefs about what is desirable or pleasurable without reference to the moral codes; nonethical values are ethically neutral. Values

Other Factors Influencing Our Values:  Culture (including nationality, ethnicity and religious tradition)  Religious Beliefs  Values of Family & Teachers (beliefs of those who care for and nurture us)  Personal Experiences  Reasoning and Reflection  Organizational Values  Professional and Business Norms  Culture (including nationality, ethnicity and religious tradition)  Religious Beliefs  Values of Family & Teachers (beliefs of those who care for and nurture us)  Personal Experiences  Reasoning and Reflection  Organizational Values  Professional and Business Norms

Values Are Different Than Ethics  “Values” refers to all important beliefs.  “Ethics” refers only to beliefs about moral right and wrong.  “Values” refers to all important beliefs.  “Ethics” refers only to beliefs about moral right and wrong.

Ethics Ethics is about right and wrong and how an honorable person should behave.

Two Aspects of Ethics DISCERNMENT Ability to discern right from wrong, good from evil and propriety from impropriety DISCIPLINE Will power and discipline to do what is right, regardless of temptations and pressures to do otherwise

IS vs. OUGHT “IS” Ethics “OUGHT” Ethics “Is” ethics is purely descriptive of norms of behavior, the way individuals or groups actually behave without regard to any notion of moral obligation or what should or ought to be; associated with ethical relativism. “Ought” ethics is prescriptive. It prescribes behavior based on objective standards of right and wrong that create moral obligations. Ethical principles provide standards of conduct and objective criteria of ethics.

Ethics is not about the way things are. It’s about the way they ought to be.

Why Be Ethical? Prudence It’s the smart thing to do (self-interest) Virtue It’s the right thing to do

Obstacles to Good Ethics

 When the motivation for ethical behavior is self-interest, decision making is reduced to risk/reward calculations rather than committed adherence to ethical principles.  If the risk is low enough or the rewards are high enough, ethical principles are compromised.  When the motivation for ethical behavior is self-interest, decision making is reduced to risk/reward calculations rather than committed adherence to ethical principles.  If the risk is low enough or the rewards are high enough, ethical principles are compromised. Ethics of Self- Interest

The real test of our character is whether we are willing to do the right thing even when it is not in our self-interest. Module Two – Character Development Theory© 2004 Josephson Institute 29