Social rejection from the perspective of latency-age children: Moral failing or normative phenomenon?

Social exclusion, a pervasive and impactful phenomenon particularly prominent during preadolescence, has traditionally been construed through a moral deficiency lens. This study departs from prevailing research trends, casting a novel light on the phenomenon in the context of normative moral development. It elucidates the role of social exclusion in shaping moral growth during the preadolescence period. Through a series of 12 focus group discussions involving 140 children, this study unveils a nuanced perspective. Most participants perceived social exclusion as a requisite mechanism safeguarding group cohesion against uncooperative individuals, whose actions could impede the crystallization of distinct social norms. This article highlights how preadolescents apply social exclusion to those who have yet to transitioned from a juvenile moral stance characterized by dependence on authority figures to a more sophisticated, adaptable moral outlook factoring into social contexts when making decisions. Beyond its theoretical contributions to the moral development discourse, this study offers implications for identifying children prone to social exclusion and suggests innovative avenues for devising intervention strategies.