Elizabeth Law

Youths' Perspectives on Global Issues

Project

Capstone 2020 - Final Project.mov

Presentation

Capstone Presentation

Progress Log

Capstone Essay

Elizabeth Law

Caballero

English 4

5 May 2020

Youth’s Perspectives on Global Issues

Introduction

A survey done by UNICEF shows that 50% of children across the globe feel deprived of rights due to the decisions made by world leaders that are directly affecting them. Many children are aware of current global issues such as climate change, poverty, and terrorism, and are extremely concerned by them (Selby). As an adolescent myself, I wanted to understand how children and youth in my community view the world's most prevailing issues. I was also curious as to whether or not they thought these issues were being properly addressed by world leaders and other adults in our society. As a result, my capstone project is going to be conducting a survey of students from elementary through high school to collect information about their opinions and perspectives on global issues, then putting that data into a documentary-style video. I also hope to be able to conduct and record some virtual interviews using Zoom to get a more in-depth understanding of their opinions, and add that to my video. For background research, I needed to enhance my knowledge on youths’ psychology and world issues to better understand and analyze the data I was gathering. However, children should not be burdened with obligations to solve the world’s issues. Adults must be responsible in regards to resolving global issues and improving the world’s conditions for future generations.

The Psychology of Youths

Kohlberg’s studies on moral development contributed greatly to the understanding of youths’ behavior and psychology. In 1958, American psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg conducted a study in hopes of better understanding how people’s morals changed with their age. He interviewed 72 boys, aged ten to sixteen, and gave them hypothetical dilemmas; he then asked a series of questions to assess their moral reasoning (McLeod). He theorized that children’s moral reasoning became more complex as they aged, and that there were three principal levels of reasoning, which he called pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional. Most young children up to about age ten are at the pre-conventional level of moral reasoning, as they have no personal moral standards and only follow the rules set by adults so as not to get punished. The category of conventional morality, which is where the majority of adolescents and adults fall under, is when someone’s actions and moral codes follow that of others and of the society (McLeod). By this stage, an individual is more aware of the outside world and large-scale issues facing a population. Finally, when an individual has reached the level of post-conventional morality, that person has developed their own moral code and understands that while rules and laws may be beneficial to the greatest number of people, there are times when following them may not lead to the best outcome (McLeod). Kohlberg’s theory helped to advance the field of psychology and give insight to young people’s ethical perceptions.

However, Kohlberg’s study contained bias and was not completely accurate, which led his research assistant and fellow psychologist, Carol Gilligan, to further examine his theory of moral development. A large portion of Gilligan’s contribution to psychology included her further research of moral development and the changes she made to Kohlberg’s earlier theory. After working closely with Kohlberg on his theory of moral development, Gilligan found factors of bias, primarily that Kohlberg’s study subjects were all male. Gilligan, therefore, decided to conduct her own study of moral reasoning with female test subjects, and found that a woman’s sense of morality is based on relationships and their emphasis on caring for those around them. Gilligan called her theory the ethics of care (“Carol”). Similar to Kohlberg, Gilligan’s theory also contained the three main levels of pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional morality. However, whereas Kohlberg’s studies show that men prioritize justice, Gilligan found that women’s moral reasoning is centered around their concern of care and responsibility for others. In Gilligan’s theory, an individual at pre-conventional morality is focused completely on self-interest and the need for survival. When a female is at the level of conventional morality, that person emphasizes selflessness and self-sacrifice in order to care for others. Once post-conventional morality is reached, an individual prefers nonviolence, and understands that it is important to care for others as well as care for themselves (“Carol”). Gilligan’s study of development in female morality and theory on the ethics of care brought attention to women’s sense of morality and enhanced the field of psychology immensely.

In addition to morality, knowledge on other aspects of young children’s development is important to understanding their views and opinions. Young children’s psychological development is shown through major advancements in both cognitive and emotional growth. Children from the ages of six to twelve are typically considered to be in the childhood stage of psychological development (Gentile). At this stage, they begin to understand logical, abstract, and symbolic material, and are able to comprehend more complex ideas (“Psychological”). During this time, children are very susceptible to aggression and violence, especially if they directly witness it. Even without personally seeing it, children are still exposed and vulnerable to brutality and hostility, for example, while watching the news or enjoying a movie. However, while young children are quite affected by darker themes, they may not understand the significance of these topics, and react similarly to both real-world and fantastical dangers (Gentile). Young children also progress greatly in regards to emotional development. They start developing self-concept and the sense of one’s belonging within a larger group, such as with friends or classmates. The importance of peer group interaction can be seen in children’s emotional development (Gentile), as they learn to interpret their own emotions and the emotions of those around them. Through this, they also learn empathy, as well as witness and understand different points of view (“Psychological”). These changes in children’s intellectual and emotional states are evidence of their drastic psychological progression.

As children grow up and mature into adolescence, they continue to develop, both as an individual and in their relationships with others. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, youths are regarded as adolescents, and transition into a new stage of psychological development (Gentile). Many teenagers participate in schooling and receive further education, broadening their subject knowledge and building upon previous skills they have learned. In general, adolescents' analyzation and evaluation skills improve (“Psychological”), as well as their ability to better understand more abstract concepts (Gentile). They further develop emotionally and socially as well. At this stage, youths become more self-aware and mature, they are more independent of their parents (“Psychological”), and begin to have greater responsibilities (Gentile). Adolescents are now able to establish their own relationships, for example, among friends and teachers (“Psychological”), and there is a deeper trust between genders. By this time in their development, adolescents have a clear distinction between fantasy and reality, and their increased maturity means that they react more strongly to real-world issues, such as those found in news stories (Gentile). This further progression of personal and social development in youths can be seen in their transition and entrance into adolescence.

Global Issues

Because my capstone project consists of learning about young people’s perspectives on real-world problems, I wanted to connect psychology to global issues; researching both topics will give me a better understanding of my project results. Throughout the world, many large-scale issues are causing negative impacts on people’s livelihoods and the Earth’s environment, and must be resolved. The ultimate goal in solving global issues is to preserve humanity (“What”) and maintain the well-being of this planet. However, while many issues are currently being addressed, humankind faces numerous challenges in regards to this subject. One major cause for concern is that many problems affecting future generations are often neglected, partially due to the fact that future generations are not able to influence the decisions being made today. Another difficulty is that many scientific organizations campaigning for action and solutions to these problems are not given much funding and support, meaning they cannot reach their full potential in helping solve global issues. Finally, one of the most pressing concerns is the fact that there are large numbers of issues in need of solving, and people do not know which ones to focus their efforts on first (“What”). However, according to Will MacAskill, a researcher at the Global Priorities Institute at Oxford University, there is a framework that could be used to better prioritize which global issues to undertake. The framework is based upon size, solvability, and neglect. A larger issue means that a greater number of people will be affected by its impacts and benefit from its resolution, for instance, existential crises. Solvability is an important factor because the more easily a problem is solved, the less time and resources will need to be used (“What”), such as global health. Lastly, the more neglected an issue is, the less likely it will be to easily correct later on (“What”), for example, issues facing children. Resolving global issues that negatively affect the world and humanity must be recognized as a priority.

Climate change is one of the most pressing global issues today, affecting all of humanity as well as the Earth’s environment. In regards to the framework of size, solvability, and neglect, climate change best falls under the category of size, as it affects all living organisms on the planet, meaning there is more to gain if it is resolved. Climate change refers to the significant changes in the earth’s climate, such as increased temperatures, and shifts in precipitation and wind patterns (“Climate”). While research shows that the Earth has experienced climate fluctuations in the past, there have been none that reached this level, causing scientists and experts to attribute these changes to human activity. The major causes include society’s excessive use of fossil fuels and increased greenhouse gas emissions, which lead to the enhanced greenhouse effect, ultimately altering the planet’s climate. This is seen in forms of severe weather, rising sea levels, poor impacts on ecosystems, resource crisis, etc (“Climate”). Due to its large-scale effects, climate change is one of the most serious and urgent global issues society currently faces. Fortunately, many people have understood the severity of this and the danger it poses to the planet, and therefore decided to fight against climate change.

In recent decades, the clear evidence of climate change has caught great public attention, prompting many businesses and individuals to make efforts to help combat this phenomenon. For example, statistics show that the 1987 energy efficiency standards for appliances has saved over two billion tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. In order to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emission, many utility companies also started using more renewable sources to generate power rather than continuing to burn fossil fuels. In addition, the 2025 clean car standards mean vehicles will be averaging 54.5 miles per gallon, compared to the 2011 clean car standards which average about 28 miles per gallon (Denchak). Other non-profit organizations such as the Clean Air Task Force, Greenpeace, and the Nature Conservancy are also dedicated to helping confront climate change and its effects. Many individuals have also made steps to reduce their carbon footprint, the amount of carbon compounds emitted by an individual, and help protect the environment on a smaller scale. For example, people have contributed by installing solar panels for their homes, choosing to drive less, and driving fuel-efficient vehicles like hybrids and fully electric cars when necessary (Denchak). Even simple contributions like these help to reduce the negative impact on the ecosystem. Many people have chosen to aid in the battle against climate change due to clear scientific evidence, capturing vast societal awareness.

In addition to the many efforts being made to combat climate change, another worldwide issue that humankind may be more successful at solving is global health. The issue of global health affects the world’s entire population, and is a solvable issue that is constantly being improved upon. Global health is vital, and has also recently obtained increased amounts of recognition due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. In actuality, human society has an impressive record in regards to curing and preventing diseases, and saving lives. For instance, smallpox was eradicated in 1980, saving approximately 60 million lives, which is more lives saved than if world peace had been achieved in that same time period (“What”). Organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) partner with countries around the globe to prevent diseases and protect public health. In order to successfully do this, their tasks include disease surveillance, outbreak response, emergency management, identification and diagnosis of diseases, as well as training the workforce. Additionally, the International Health Regulations (IHR), signed in 2005, addresses global health concerns and helps protect people against diseases. The IHR mandates that all countries are able to detect, assess, report, and respond to public health events, however, only about ⅓ of the world’s countries are able to meet these standards (“Global”). The CDC also offers Join External Evaluation (JEE) as a voluntary process of evaluating a country’s ability to address infectious diseases. The JEE assesses a country’s strengths and weaknesses, and gives advice regarding how to strengthen health systems (“Global”). These organizations and regulations help to increase preparedness and improve health systems in the occasion of a public health event. Increasing global health is a solvable issue that has gained awareness and is currently in the process of being resolved.

Unfortunately, while issues like climate change and global health are being given much social attention, other issues, such as child labor, are not. Child labor is an example of a large-scale issue that brings harm to many people in multiple places across the world, yet has not received adequate attention. According to the International Labor Organization, there are an estimated 211 million children ages five to fourteen who are working. Millions of them are kidnapped, sold, or bonded, meaning their labor was pledged by parents as a form of payment. Most work conditions are poor, with little to no pay, and children may be abused physically or verbally. Oftentimes their health, safety, and development are threatened, and they may be forced to work past their physical capabilities (Frater). Despite this, the issue of child labor has been largely neglected and overlooked, leaving many children suffering at the hands of their employers. Fortunately, some organizations have recognized the gravity of this issue and are trying to help improve child labor situations.

Agencies such as the United Nations’ International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) have started to bring child labor issues into the spotlight in hopes of providing social justice and confronting humanitarian issues. For example, researchers from the ODI observed the child labor situation in Bangladesh and devised a few strategies to improve conditions for children there and in other similar places. One strategy that is crucial to decreasing the amount of children laborers is raising the age for free, mandatory education. Surveys show that the major reasons children dropped out of school were because they could not afford to pay tuition or because they had to supplement their family’s income. By the age of fourteen, there are more children in Bangladesh who are working than receiving an education. The ODI notes that this course of action was successful in Britain during the 1800s, and significantly decreased the amount of child labor there (Bain). Another strategy related to school is improving the quality of education. Classroom conditions are often of poor quality and provide harsh learning environments. Many students are unable to learn even basic skills and some are illiterate. The ODI suggests giving teachers more training, which will allow them to better guide and instruct students (Bain). Finally, the ODI also calls for brands using products made from child laborers to demand change. For instance, the clothing industry in Bangladesh employs many children, then exports the garments to places like the United States and Europe. However, brands and customers may not be aware that the clothing factories employ children and are associated with child labor (Bain). Exploitation of children not only does damage to those employed, but also to future economic development. While child labor has been mostly disregarded and not given enough examination, some organizations have researched and confronted this issue with the goal of providing attention and justice.

Conclusion

Through my research process, I learned a great deal about how children develop psychologically, as well as multiple different global issues and their solutions. This research has increased my knowledge on how children’s psychological progression and their understanding of the outside world is related to variables such as age and gender, as well as various worldwide issues and some steps that are being taken to help fix them. With this new knowledge, I plan to create a survey as part of my capstone project that will include factors like age and gender, which will allow me to analyze the data I collect more precisely. I also want to see if there are connections between these variables and what children think the most important global issues are, as well as which aspect of the framework they fall under. In addition, I plan to use the information I have gained on world issues in my virtual interviews with youths to determine their reactions to some statistics and solutions, then use those in my video. My hope is that through my research and capstone project, people will understand the importance of children’s voices as well as the urgency to resolve global issues and improve the future of this planet.

Works Cited

Bain, Marc. “Researchers Have Identified a Very Simple, Universal Solution to Child Labor’s

Vicious Cycle of Poverty.” Quartz, 17 December 2016,

https://qz.com/858374/child-labor-is-a-global-epidemic-but-researchers-in-bangladesh-

have-one-blueprint-for-a-solution/. Accessed 22 April 2020.

“Carol Gilligan.” Good Therapy, 8 July 2015,

https://www.goodtherapy.org/famous-psychologists/carol-gilligan.html. Accessed 22

April 2020.

“Climate Change Battle: Causes, Effects, Solutions.” Terrapass, n.d.,

https://www.terrapass.com/climate-change-battle-causes-effects-and-solutions.

Accessed 20 April 2020.

Denchak, Melissa. “How You Can Stop Global Warming.” NRDC, 17 July 2017,