Why do students like certain subjects more than others?
Subjects relate to intelligence's described in Gardner's theory.
Favorite subjects can change over time and so can our strong intelligences
If the reason that we like certain subjects is because we are strong in a related intelligence, then where does that intelligence root from?
Physical ability
Kinesthetic intelligence is probably not the strongest intelligence in someone who is paralyzed.
Linguistic is probably not the strongest intelligence of someone who is mentally impaired.
Exposure
If a person has not been taught math then their strongest intelligence will probably not be logic/math.
We need to be exposed to a subject to know if we are strong in it
Questions I have developed through this theory.
Kohlberg's stages of moral development
Could our favorite subjects be affected by our moral development?
Different stages and how they might affect the choice of what subject they like.
Obedience/Punishment
I don't think that this stage necessarily applies as much as the others might because at this age a child is not in school.
Conformity and Interpersonal Accord
At this stage kids just want to make others approve of them.
They might change their mind because their friend likes reading more than math and they want to be the same.
Authority and Social Order
This moral development stage might influence what subject a person likes because of the culture.
A boy might stop liking art as much and turn towards science because he should be able to provide for a family. To provide he needs a good job and it is "manly".
A girl might turn away from science and more towards art due to how society views these subjects.
Social Contract
At this stage a person might not be in school anymore.
Universal Principles
At this stage in moral development a person in usually not in school anymore.
If they are not, they probably do not think about school subjects and focus more on their work or family.
If they are still going to school they probably like what ever subject that they are best at.
Piaget's theory and how it relates
Sensorimotor
Ages 0-2
This is cognitive thinking about seen objects and classifying them
More on a science and math aspect of thinking
Could be associated with art
Physical ability
Preoperational
Ages 2-7
abstract and symbolic thinking is difficult, but they are learning
More about reading and writing
knowing how others and your own person feel
Concrete Operational
Ages 7-11
Math and problem solving age
Formal Operational
Ages 11-older
Difficult Problem solving
I think that this theory applies because we learn differently and understand more at different stages
I think that if a person is stunted by an outside force during one or more of these ages and periods of learning it could make it hard for the student to learn the subject that is mainly taught during that time and make a person not like that subject as much.