JOURNAL 8

Nellie Gotebeski

October 27, 2009

Moral Development

What kinds of moral identities do I see around me? Do I know any moral exemplars? What are they like?

As a college student, I see many different moral identities at Notre Dame. One aspect of moral identity is the mergence of self goals with moral goals. Dedication to eliminating chauvinistic attitudes that repress women, inspiration to sustain energy, and motivation to bring $5 foot-longs to Lafortune’s Subway are examples of moral goals on Notre Dame’s campus. The chance that these goals will be reached depends on whether they are merged with personal goals. Some people create moral goals, but have no aspiration to fulfill them. Those who accomplish their moral goals usually have aligned these goals with their personal goals. 

Another aspect of moral identity is a sense of moral responsibility. On campus, there are some students who can walk by a homeless person in South Bend, without feeling responsible to do something to reduce poverty. Other students will have what I call a “short-term desire” to make a change and will rush to their local food drive to volunteer a few hours. And few will be greatly affected by this social influence and will remain motivated for a lifetime. Lastly, our accessibility to moral schemas is a big indicator of our moral identities. Those who find it easy to access moral schemas and apply them to everyday life, are more likely to achieve moral goals than those who have trouble accessing them.

Jeff, a student at Notre Dame, is a great example of a moral exemplar. As a sophomore, Jeff traveled to Africa and studied HIV/AIDS with a team of doctors. He knew this research experience would look great on his transcript for medical school and above all, he was very excited about enjoying an experience in a different country. Jeff became very interested in the AID epidemic and was deeply distraught about the poverty he witnessed in Africa. After he returned to the United States, he wrote a paper about Aids-related stigma and became motivated to find a solution to this problem. Furthermore, Jeff decided to take action about the injustice he saw occurring in a continent thousands of miles away. He decided to start a nonprofit organization with the goals of reducing poverty in Africa and decreasing the number of people infected by HIV/AIDS. 

A few summers ago, I decided to participate in a Summer Service Projects associated with his foundation. During that summer, we traveled to various parts of South Africa and provided food and school supplies to the less fortunate. We also purchased and revamped a RV to be used for a medical outpatient testing vehicle. The vehicle allowed the nurses to provide an HIV testing facility to communities outside of Johannesburg. The vehicle was an improvement to the tents the nurses originally used and the vehicle’s mobility allowed more people to get tested. Since this trip, the foundation has continued to provide aid to Africa. The organization raised enough money to build several schools in Kenya and is in the process of raising money to build health clinics. 

In many ways, Jeff is the moral exemplar that Colby and Damon describe in their article “The Development of Extraordinary Moral Commitment.” Jeff’s social influence has guided his morality. He decided to attend Notre Dame with aspirations to become a doctor. He then decided to go to Africa to make himself more marketable for med schools. However, in Africa he underwent a goal transformation. After returning to the United States, he abandoned his Pre-medicine major and formed an organization dedicated to improving lives in Africa. This interaction of person and context led to his goal transformation and his moral dedication. His personal goals became closely aligned with his moral goals, which is a critical characteristic of a moral exemplar. As Colby and Damon stated, “The exemplars’ moral concerns and commitments are continuous with most people’s moral concerns and commitments but greater in degree.” 

Jeff’s moral concern is far beyond the norm. He believes moral action is not a choice, but the only option. His moral schemas are not limited to his volunteer work in Africa, but extend to other areas of the world. Jeff applies his moral schemes to everyday life situations and consequently, he is aware of the injustices occurring around him. He aspires to fulfill his moral responsibility, and takes this responsibility to the maximum. Jeff is very certain about what he wants to accomplish, but he remains open to a new goal transformation that could occur at any point in his life. He is aware of his moral responsibility and has a strong work ethic devoted to fulfilling it. He is very optimistic about the future and his positive attitude is contagious to those around him.