Akeelah & the Bee. Frederick Herrmann EDU 650 Advanced Educational Psychology Summer 2007

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1 Akeelah & the Bee Frederick Herrmann EDU 650 Advanced Educational Psychology Summer 2007

2 Theme: The Adoption of Akeelah To demonstrate this theme, this analysis follows the chronological order of the movie

3 Starring Akeelah... with special guest stars... Dad Dr. Larabee

4 Featuring the Moral Theories of Lawrence Kohlberg and Jean Piaget

5 Modified Theories MODIFIERS Piaget s and Kohlberg s theories of moral development were refuted by subsequent research and underwent modification. Kohlberg progressively modified his own theory, acknowledging the contributions of Gilligan and others. Piaget s moral and emotional theories are less developed than his cognitive theory, interpreted in various ways, and strongly refuted.

6 Scene: Daddy, have you heard of this word? Theme: Akeelah s attachment to her deceased father Theory: Kohlberg Stage 3, Interpersonal Harmony Miller (1976)... noted that women s sense of self is built around being able make and then maintain connections with others and that the loss of relationships is experienced by many women as tantamount to a loss of self (Gilligan, 1993, p. 106). Akeelah

7 Scene: I don t see why I should do it for the school! Theme: Without personal-level involvement, Akeelah remains unattached Theory: Kohlberg Stage 2, Market Exchange If the high school does not have a coherent set of values or a moral philosophy, Kagan argued (as did Kohlberg and myself), it cannot engage the commitment of its students (Gilligan, 1993, p. 109). Akeelah

8 Scene: Then do it for Dad. Theme: Akeelah s father provides her with constant support Theory: Piaget (1965), The sense of justice, though capable of being reinforced by the precepts and examples of the adult, is largely independent of these influences (Reimer, 1993, p. 93). Research indicates that fathers of daughters are significantly more supportive of their daughters than are fathers of sons supportive of their sons (Reimer, 1993, p. 98). Dad

9 Scene: Akeelah looking at a photo of her dad Theme: Akeelah s father provides her with the necessary courage Theory: Kohlberg Stage 6, Principle (Love) The Powers Study (1982, 1983, 1984) demonstrated that mothers and fathers levels of affective [emotional] support were significantly and positively related to levels of adolescent development (Reimer, 1993, p. 97). Dad

10 Scene: Akeelah turns to Dr. Larabee for help Theme: Akeelah naturally turns to a father-figure Theory: Piaget (1965), Egocentricism results from the unequal relation between child and adult... (Reimer, 1993, p. 93). Konopka (1966) states that the need for dependence... seems to exist in all adolescent girls (Gilligan, 1993, p. 106). Akeelah

11 Scene: Dr. Larabee shows up at the district spelling bee Theme: Though their relationship is undeveloped, Dr. Larabee cannot keep himself away Theory: Kohlberg Stage 5, Social Contract (in the sense of duty) Kohlberg (1984) states, We have come to understand Gilligan s (1982) claim that our moral dilemmas and scoring system were limited in that they did not deal with dilemmas... of special relationships and obligations (emphasis Kohlberg; Reed, 1997, p. 246). Larabee

12 Scene: Akeelah speaks to her father s photo, Guess what? I m going to the regional bee! Theme: Without Dr. Larabee s support, Akeelah continues to rely on her father for strength Theory: Kohlberg Stage 3, Interpersonal Harmony Dad

13 Scene: You d let me do it Theme: Dad s moral authority gives Akeelah the gumption to sign his name to the regional bee permission slip. Disobedience to mother by appeal to higher authority. Theory: Piaget (1965),... given sufficient liberty of action the child will spontaneously emerge from his egocentricism, and the adult acts most of the time to strengthen egocentricism... (Reimer, 1993, p. 93). Lickona (1976), The research... indicates that loyalty to and genuine respect for personal authority... is something that children must develop... and something that accompanies advance, not immaturity... (emphasis his; Rosen, 1980, p. 33). Dad

14 Scene: Read the quotation on the wall. Theme: Dr. Larabee assumes the paternal role of guidance Theory: Kohlberg Stage 7, Participation in Cosmic Order Kohlberg (1984) states that Stage 7 is based on constructing a sense of identity or unity with being, with life, or with God (Reed, 1997, p. 84). We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. Marianne Williamson Larabee

15 Scene: The Jump Rope Theme: Adoption! Larabee gives Akeelah his deceased daughter s toy Theory: Kohlberg Stage 6, Universal Principle (Love) Larabee

16 Scenes: Wound, Whiskey, and Regression Theme: By canceling a meeting with Larabee, Akeelah opens his wound. Larabee turns to whiskey to numb the pain and withdrawals from his commitment to her in an act of self-protection. Theory: Regression to Kohlberg Stage 1, Avoidance of Punishment (Pain); Piaget Loss of Cognitive Equilibrium I told you, Denise... Larabee

17 Scene: Initials on a jump rope Theme: Akeelah understands that Dr. Larabee is experiencing emotional hurt Theory: Piaget, all actions are both intellectual and emotional Yet it is women s elaboration or care considerations that reveals the coherence of a care ethic as a framework for decision... (Gilligan, 1993, p. 113). Akeelah

18 Scene: I cried and cried and cried... Theme: Akeelah empathizes with Larabee and expresses understanding by opening up about the loss of her father Theory: Piaget believed that cognition and emotion were interdependent and therefore went through parallel development (Pulaski, 1971, p. 90) Akeelah Hoffman (1976), Gottman (1983) and Bowlby (1973, 1980) provide research revealing the disparity between the stage theory description of the young child as asocial and amoral and the intensely social and also moral nature of the young child s relationships with others (Gilligan, 1993, p. 105).

19 Scene:... and when you and I get to DC... Theme: Stronger than before. Larabee pulls out of his regression and accepts his role in Akeelah s life. Theory: Reaffirmation of Kohlberg Stage 6; Piaget Cognitive Accommodation The reaffirmation of the higher stages of morality with its rules and contracts is embraced with greater realism and commitment than prior to regression (Rosen, 1980, p. 90). Larabee

20 Scene: Pretty good, huh? Theme: With a glance upwards, Akeelah still embraces her father s affection Theory: Piaget (1965), The average parent is like an unintelligent government that is content to accumulate laws in spite of... ever-increasing mental confusion... (Reimer, 1993, p. 103). Dad Research by Youniss (1980) concludes that adolescent children try actively to integrate into that relationship [with their parents] elements of friendship and mutual adjustment. Youniss recognition that the parent-child relationship is not necessarily frozen in one stance... is an important advance over Piaget s negativism (Reimer, 1993, p. 95).

21 Scene: Larabee tells Akeelah that he has accepted a position at UCLA Theme: Emotionally healed through his adoption of Akeelah, Larabee becomes a stronger person, no longer fearing the unpredictable Theory: Kohlberg Stage 5, Social Contract; Piaget Cognitive Assimilation The structural regression [regression followed by re-advancement] is also a functional advance in the service of ego development (Rosen, 1980, p. 90). Larabee

22 Scene: The letter D Theme: Akeelah s dad s love remains with her Theory: Kohlberg Stage 6, I am with you always, perpetual devotion Dad

23 Scene: We did it! Theme: Akeelah and Larabee are now a we a family through devoted love Theory: Kohlberg Stage 6, Universal Principle the love that creates a family through conscious decision is necessarily stronger than the Interpersonal Harmony love of Stage 3 Akeelah

24 References Eggen, P. and Kauchak, D. (2007). Educational Psychology. 7 th ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Merrill/Prentice Hall. Kohlberg, L. (1981). Essays on moral development, vol. I: The philosophy of moral development. NY: Harper & Row. Langford, P.E. (1995). Approaches to the development of moral reasoning. Hove, UK: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Gilligan, C. (1993). Adolescent development reconsidered. Approaches to moral development: New research and emerging themes (pp ). Garrod, A., ed. NY: Teachers College. Pulaski, M.A.S. (1971). Understanding Piaget: An introduction to children s cognitive development. NY: Harper & Row. Reed, D.R.C. (1997). Following Kohlberg: Liberalism and the practice of democratic community. University of Notre Dame. Reimer, J. (1993). The case of the missing family: Kohlberg and the study of adolescent development. Approaches to moral development: New research and emerging themes (pp ). Garrod, A., ed. NY: Teachers College. Rosen, H. (1980). The development of sociomoral knowledge: A cognitive-structural approach. NY: Columbia University.

Kohlberg and Gilligan

Kohlberg and Gilligan Dr. Lawrence Kohlberg Born October 25, 1927 Rebel With a Cause WWII engineer 1948 University of Chicago Work Tropical Disease Suicide January 19, 1987 Kohlberg s Theory Evolves Influenced