Final answer:
A middle school child's sense of morality is influenced by parental values, peer influence, school and community environments, and individual experiences. Kohlberg's and Gilligan's theories also provide insights into how gender may impact moral perspectives during adolescence. These factors together shape a child's developing moral framework.
Step-by-step explanation:
An influence on a middle school child's sense of morality is shaped by a complex interplay of factors. During this formative period, adolescence, several key elements contribute to their moral development. First, the family environment plays a crucial role, where parents and guardians typically establish the initial system of moral and ethical values. However, as children transition into teenagers, their emotional connection with parents may lessen, placing greater emphasis on peer influence and experiences gained through friendships, school interactions, and romantic relationships for the first time.
Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development further elucidates this process, outlining stages such as the pre-conventional, conventional, and postconventional. Teenagers often reach the conventional stage, where societal norms and the consideration of others' feelings become integral to their understanding of morality. It is also worth noting that Carol Gilligan's research on gender differences suggests that boys and girls may navigate this social terrain with distinct perspectives, with boys leaning more towards a justice perspective and girls towards a care and responsibility viewpoint.
Societal influences from schools, religious institutions, and community values further shape a child's morality. As children grow older, they start to build their convictions, informed by their experiences within their cultural context as well as individual reasoning, ultimately guiding their moral compass towards what is accepted within their specific culture and time.