Moral Disengagement of Children and Its Relation with Peer Relationship and Social Behavior

Objective: To explore the developmental characteristics of moral disengagement between children and its influences on children's social behavior and peer relationship.Methods: Survey was conducted in a sample of 684 children at grade four to six in elementary school via scales including revised children's moral disengagement,class play and peer nomination.Results: ①Compared with female students,male students had higher scores(t=-4.151,P0.001) of moral disengagement,while no grade differences was found in children's moral disengagement.②Children's moral disengagement had significant positive effect on aggressive behavior(β=0.428,P0.001),while showed significant negative influence on prosocial behavior(β=-0.214,P0.001).And moral disengagement had stronger influence on aggressive than on prosocial behavior.③Children's moral disengagement had significant positive effect on peer rejection(β=0.347,P0.001),while showed significant negative influence on peer acceptance(β=-0.164,P0.001).And moral disengagement had stronger effect on peer rejection than on peer acceptance.Conclusion: Children's moral disengagement is harmful to the development of children's social behavior and peer relationship.