Benjamin Young
ED 242
Case Study Analysis
Aaron
Aaron appears to have much strong characteristics that may be interpreted as being his
intelligences. According to Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences, most people display
strengths in one of eight intelligences that help enhance their learning. Due to Aaron’s ability to play the
violin, he may have an inclination to be music smart. In addition, he also does a lot of self reflections in a
journal which be put in under the category of being intrapersonal or self smart. I believe that Aaron is
strongest in his linguistic abilities which would make him word smart. I came to this conclusion because
of his love for English class and his teacher’s comment that he is “a very talented writer.” According to
Gardner, somebody that is linguistic or word smart will typically be good at telling stories, writing,
reading, and memorizing words. People with that have a word smart or linguistic intelligence may
learn best by reading, taking notes, listening to lectures, or by discussing the material with
others.
Aaron’s social and emotional development appears to have progressed adequately through the
childhood stages of Erikson’s eight stages of man. He initiates his own activities and stays on task with
his routine of homework, violin practice, and babysitting. He does not need to be reminded to do these
tasks because he is dedicated enough to do them himself. He passed through the fourth stage and
ended up on the favorable side of the industry vs. inferiority crisis. This is due to Aaron’s ability to
understand that his mother’s undesirable working hours are for the best. In my opinion, Aaron is
currently in the seventh or middle age stage which is classified by the generality vs. self-absorption
crisis. I have come to this conclusion because of Aaron’s mom description of him as having the
constitution of an old man. Aaron is definitely mature and appears to exemplify a favorable
outcome in the middle age stage of Erikson’s social emotional development stages. His
compassion and commitment for others is a clear indication of his development. Although he
appears favorable on this stage it does not correlate with his age. Aaron should focus on his
adolescent stage (sixth) since he still appears to be confused over who he really is. An
environmental factor that may assist him would be to ………….
When considering Aaron’s characteristics and behavior, I would place him under the
formal operational stage of Piaget’s stages of cognitive development. The formal operational
stage is characterized by an adolescent’s ability to reason abstractly and think in hypothetical
terms. I come to this observation primarily because of Aaron’s ability to write about and think
hypothetical concerning the outcome of the family that committed insurance fraud. The formal
operational stage is age appropriate for Aaron but he still needs to develop his learning skills
and knowledge. He puts in minimum effort at school and rarely challenges his abilities. He can
even improve in his English skills. I would suggest that Aaron’s parents be more involved with
his daily routine. I would also suggest that his teachers as well as his parents should work on
setting and working towards a series of small goals. Achieving small goals will build his
confidence and help him to feel more inclined to take risks.
Overall, I think that Aaron demonstrates a strong sense of morals and ethic. On
Lawrence Kohlberg’s Ladder of Moral Development, I would place him on stage four of the
conventional level. This stage is characterized by an early teens orientation to maintain
social order and obey authority. I drew this conclusion by considering Aaron’s position
about whether it was right for a certain family to lie in order to get coverage. Aaron
recognized that it was a sensitive and complex issue but he did not budge on his stance that
lying is inherently wrong. He does not see the laws as being flexible, especially considering
his knowledge of the legitimate route the family could have taken that was created by his
mother. Another aspect of Aaron’s growth is the compassion he shows for the kids in the
pediatric care unit. Aaron’s current level of moral and ethical development is at the
appropriate level for his age. The life experiences that he receives inside the class that he is
getting by volunteering will help Aaron in his future
How will this student’s current level of moral and ethical development help or hinder their
success in home, school, or social worlds?
5. What factors are supporting or hindering the student’s development? What changes to the
environment would benefit the student? Support your recommendations with relevant theories
and/or brain-based research, being sure to articulate your suggestions in a professional and
respectful manner.