CHILDREN'S DEFINITION OF CONSCIENCE Focus on The Family Mag. 10/96 p. 5

"What is the conscience? was asked of children ages 5 through 9 by a newspaper a few years ago. One 6 year old girl said a conscience is the spot inside that "burns if you're not good." A 6 year old boy thought it had something to do with feeling bad when he "kicked girls or little dogs."

Dr. James Dobson continued "Technically speaking, the conscience is a God given mental faculty that permits us to recognize the difference between right and wrong. And guilt is the uncomfortable feeling that occurs when we violate this inner code of ethics."