Making a list, checking it twice: Does Santa make children nice?
- Date & time
- –
- Host
- The Uehiro Oxford Institute (Department)
- Series
- Bitesize Ethics Christmas programme
- Location
- Organisation
- Oxford
Topics
About this talk
Every Christmas, children are reminded that Santa Claus is watching, keeping track of who has been naughty or nice, and rewarding good behaviour with presents. But does believing in Santa actually make children behave better? And is being good in the hope of receiving presents the same as being good for goodness' sake? Drawing on our recent research into children's belief in Santa Claus and prosocial behaviour, this talk will explore the relationship between Christmas traditions and children's moral behaviour. We will consider whether rewards, surveillance, and the promise of presents encourage genuine kindness or simply obedience, and whether adults have a responsibility to foster children's moral understanding rather than just good behaviour. More broadly, what can Santa Claus teach us about how children learn to be good and the role adults play in shaping their morality?
Add to Calendar