Geweten en gehoorzamen bij kinderen

Summary

This video script explores a psychological experiment conducted in a London school, where young children face a moral dilemma. The teacher leaves the classroom, and an older student brings in birthday cakes, leaving them behind. Despite knowing the cakes are off-limits, the children are tempted. The teacher returns and encourages them to eat the cakes. The experiment examines whether the children will follow their moral instincts or succumb to the authority of the teacher. The results reveal that despite initial resistance, the children's obedience to authority ultimately outweighs their sense of right and wrong.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sean was asked about his recent 'naughty' actions, but he denied doing anything naughty.
• 🧐 He mentioned cutting his hair with scissors and putting chewing gum in his mom's hair as past actions.
• 😯 The conversation shifted to an experiment involving children and their reaction to authority figures.
• 🎂 An older boy, Sha, leaves birthday cakes in the classroom, with instructions not to eat them.
• 🤔 The teacher pretends not to know about the cakes and leaves to get plates, creating a moral dilemma for the children.
• 👶 Children are expected to be influenced by authority figures, even when instructed to do something wrong.
• 😇 Despite initial resistance, the children eventually give in to the teacher's suggestion and eat the cakes.
• 🍰 One of the children touched the cake early but hesitated to eat it without permission.
• 👨‍🏫 The experiment demonstrated that young children are highly susceptible to following authority figures, even when it conflicts with their sense of right and wrong.
• 📚 The psychologist's observation suggests this tendency to follow authority continues into adulthood.

Q & A

What was the initial question Sean was asked in the video?

Sean was asked if he had done anything naughty recently, and he replied that he had not.

Why does Sean think people need to be good in the world?

Sean believes that people need to be good so they don't get told off.

What did Sean say he had done with scissors recently?

Sean mentioned that he had cut his hair with scissors recently.

What was the psychological experiment being conducted in the classroom?

The experiment aimed to see if children would obey their teacher's instructions, even if it involved doing something they knew was wrong, like eating birthday cakes that weren't theirs.

Who were watching the experiment from the control room?

Child psychologist Dr. Patrick Leman and head teacher Karen McBride were observing the experiment from the control room.

What role did Sha play in the experiment?

Sha, an older boy, entered the classroom to leave his birthday cakes there and told the children not to take them.

How did the teacher influence the children to make a decision?

The teacher returned to the room and asked the children if they wanted a cake, implying that it was okay to take one, despite the cakes belonging to Sha.

What was the initial reaction of the children when the cakes were left in the classroom?

The children were tempted but initially resisted taking the cakes, showing a sense of right and wrong.

How did the children respond when the teacher told them they could have a cake?

Although they hesitated at first, the children eventually gave in to the teacher's authority and took the cakes.

What conclusion can be drawn from this experiment about children's behavior?

The experiment showed that while young children have a sense of morality, the influence of an authority figure, like a teacher, can override their moral judgment and lead them to act against their initial instincts.