Predictors of Ethnic-Minority Adolescents' Moral Judgments and Bystander Intervention in Response to Social Exclusion

• In Event: Roundtable Discussions on Moral Development and Education 2

Abstract

Ethnic minority adolescents experience and observe social exclusion. Research examined children’s reasoning about social exclusion; however, little is known about the predictors of ethnic minority adolescents’ moral judgments and bystander intervention in instances of social exclusion. The current study examines social predictors of moral judgments and bystander intervention in response to exclusion. Participants included ethnic minority 6th and 9th graders (N = 326, 54.5% female). Five hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted. Results demonstrated that ethnic minority adolescents, especially females, recognize the harmful nature of exclusion and are willing to intervene when they observe exclusion. Conversely, participants who reported more teacher racial discrimination are more likely to evaluate social exclusion to be okay and stay inactive when others are excluded.

Authors

• Greysi Irdam, University of South Carolina - Columbia

• Kelly Lynn Lynn Mulvey, North Carolina State University

• Secil Gonultas, North Carolina State University

• Matthew J. Irvin, University of South Carolina

• Ryan G. Carlson, University of South Carolina - Columbia

• Christine DiStefano, University of South Carolina