Research Presentation by Associate Professor of Psychology, Dr. Chris Daddis
"Coordinating the Complexities of School Misbehavior: A Social Domain Perspective"
This talk will examine adolescent reasoning regarding school misbehavior, drawing on data from both middle and high school populations. Utilizing Social Cognitive Domain Theory, the research explores how students navigate the complexities of classroom transgressions by coordinating distinct domains of knowledge (i.e., moral concerns, social-conventional norms, prudential safety, and personal autonomy). The talk highlights how the coordination of these domains shifts throughout adolescence, influencing both the evaluation of and engagement in various forms of misbehavior.
The discussion will focus on key findings indicating that students who demonstrate more sophisticated, multidimensional thinking (i.e., recognizing multiple social domains within a single act) tend to report lower levels of engagement in school transgressions. In contrast, students who engage in more frequent misbehavior often prioritize personal choice over moral or conventional considerations, a pattern that persists across different age groups. By synthesizing findings from multiple studies, the presentation offers a broader perspective on how adolescent reasoning develops over time and discusses the implications for creating more effective, domain-based approaches to school discipline and moral education. The talk will also touch upon the design of a new cross-sequential study that tracks these beliefs from elementary through high school to further map this developmental process.