Depok, November 11th 2023. Prof. Dr. Rose Mini Agoes Salim, M.Psi., Psychologist., was inaugurated as permanent professor of Psychological Science, Faculty of Psychology (FPsi) Universitas Indonesia (UI), this morning (Saturday, 11/11). On this occasion, she read her inauguration speech entitled “Creating a Superior Generation: Preventing Bad Behavior through Early Moral Education” at the Convention Hall, UI Depok Campus.
In her speech, Rose Mini or who is familiarly called Mother Romy (Bunda Romy) said that according to many people, Indonesia is experiencing a moral crisis. Several incidents that have occurred recently show bad behavior carried out by children, teenagers, adults and the elderly. For example, news recently circulated about a child who bullied and injured his friend’s eye with a skewer, resulting in blindness. There are also teenagers who abuse their friends until they suffer brain injuries, in addition to adults who commit domestic violence or corrupt behavior by certain individuals.
Prof. Rose Mini said that the condition described was caused by humans not being able to differentiate between good and bad, which is called morals. No human being is born immoral, but every human being has different morals, thus it can be concluded that the main cause of bad behavior is a lack of moral stimulation in a person.
She further explained, according to Suseno (1987) morals refer to the good and bad of humans, as humans and behaving in accordance with these principles. Morals must be stimulated from an early age in order for humans to be able to differentiate between good and bad, which will be useful in the future. In order to stimulate morals (abstract), what must be done is to introduce “Virtue” or things that are essential in morals to be stimulated one by one.
She mentioned seven virtues in morals which consist of three moral “cores”. The first is empathy to teach awareness. That way, children can understand what they feel and understand their feelings while also teaching sensitivity to other people. The second is conscience, which teaches children to have an inner voice, where they are able to differentiate between right and wrong and stay on the right path morally. Children must understand why a behavior is wrong and what impact it has on other people and themselves.
Third, self-control by teaching children to think before acting. Fourth, respect, which is teaching children to consider other people valuable, to treat other people the way they want to be treated. Fifth, kindness; teaching children to pay more attention to the welfare of other people, encouraging children to always behave well and get positive effects.
Then, sixth is tolerance by teaching children to appreciate the different qualities of each individual (for example, gender, appearance, culture, etc.). And the last one is fairness, which is teaching children to treat other people appropriately, fairly and impartially.
“The seven virtues (empathy, conscience, self-control, respect, kindness, tolerance and justice) must be applied or stimulated in early childhood. Morals must be instilled (inserted) in children from an early age so they can differentiate between good and bad. With optimal moral stimulation at an early age, it is hoped that children can become superior generations in the future,” said Prof. Rose Mini.
At the inauguration led by UI Rector Prof. Ari Kuncoro, S.E., M.A., Ph.D., it was also attended by Prof. Dr. (C). Roy Darmawan, S.E., M.Si.; Director of PT Surya Citra Media (SCTV, Indosiar) Dra. Harsiwi Achmad, MBA.; Chairman of the UMKM, Creative Economy and Digital PDIP Division H. Muh. Prananda Prabowo; Aditya Sutanto Hoegeng; and musician and composer Addie Muljadi Sumaatmadja (Addie MS).
Prof. Dr. Rose Mini Agoes Salim, M.Psi., Psychologist, studied from undergraduate to doctoral programs at FPsi UI. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1984; graduated with a master’s degree in psychology in 1992; then earned a doctorate in psychology in 2006. She has also published several scientific article publications in reputable international journals, including the titles The role of Career Decision Self-efficacy as a Mediator of Peer Support on Students’ Career Adaptability (2023); Proactive Personality and Attributions: Study of 12th Grade Vocational Students’ Career Decision Self-Efficacy North American Journal of Psychology (2021); and Perceived Parenting Styles, Thinking Styles, and Gender on the Career Decision Self-efficacy of Adolescents: How & Why? (2021).
