The Moral Ideal of Modern Children: Support for Choice

Abstract

The study aims to determine the factors influencing the definition of moral ideals among adolescents and the peculiarities of pedagogical support of their moral choice. The main approaches are represented by the authors’ research tools. In total, 3,443 teenagers aged 11–14 years participated in the study that had been conducted since 2017 till 2023. The study revealed that when predicting their ideals, children focus on individuals who are successful, smart, goal-oriented, kind, talented, and ready to overcome obstacles in achieving the goal. TikTokers, bloggers, streamers, YouTubers, programmers, gamers, and e-sportsmen serve as role models for teenagers. The virtual space has a major impact on the moral choices of the new generation. The authors found out the key factors (intellectual, motivational, emotional, volitional, objective and practical, existential, and self-control) that influence an individual’s perception of moral ideals. The risk of forming values unworthy of imitation through social media and the risk of creating an unrealistic idealised ‘self’ projected by the virtual space were identified. The paper concludes that teacher’s guidance in shaping the children’s moral choices is needed.