Moral reasoning in adolescent offendersA meta-analytic review

  1. Laura Férriz Romeral 1
  2. Jorge Sobral Fernández 1
  3. José Antonio Gómez Fraguela 1
  1. 1 Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
    info

    Universidade de Santiago de Compostela

    Santiago de Compostela, España

    ROR https://ror.org/030eybx10

Revista:
Psicothema

ISSN: 0214-9915

Ano de publicación: 2018

Volume: 30

Número: 3

Páxinas: 289-294

Tipo: Artigo

Outras publicacións en: Psicothema

Resumo

Background: Moral reasoning and its association with various types of behavior have been the subject of many studies in Psychology. Specifi cally, moral reasoning has been widely related to juvenile delinquency in the research about the subject. Objectives: this review integrates more than 70 years of scientifi c research into the differences in moral reasoning between adolescent offenders and non-offenders with a view to elucidating the relationship between moral reasoning and juvenile delinquency with provision for the potential moderating effect of demographic and methodological variables. Method: We conducted a meta-analytic review whose target population was young offenders between 11 and 20 years old. Results: A search for literature on the target topic retrieved a total of 72 studies with a moderated effect size (r = -.336). The most salient fi nding was that effect sizes were signifi cant for all subgroups of moderating variables. Conclusions: This result suggests a powerful relationship between moral reasoning and offi cially recorded juvenile delinquency that cannot be exclusively ascribed to sociodemographic or methodological variables. There remain some unsolved challenges in this fi eld, however, which are briefl y commented on

Referencias bibliográficas

  • Addad, M., & Leslau, A. (1990). Immoral judgement, extraversion, neuroticism, and criminal behaviour. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 34, 1-13. doi: 10.1177/0306624X9003400102
  • Al-Falaij, A. (1992). Family conditions, ego development and sociomoral development in juvenile delinquency: A study of bahraini adolescents. Doctoral thesis. University of Pittsburgh.
  • Bartek, S. E., Krebs, D. L., & Taylor, M. C. (1993). Coping, defending, and the relations between moral judgment and moral behavior in prostitutes and other female juvenile delinquents. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 102, 66-73. doi: 10.1037/0021-843X.102.1.66
  • Basinger, K. S., Gibbs, J. C., & Fuller, D. (1995). Context and the measurement of moral judgment. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 18(3), 537-556. doi: 10.1177/016502549501800309
  • Betke, M. A. (1944). Defective moral reasoning in delinquency; a psychological study. Studies in Psychology & Psychiatry from the Catholic University of America, 6, 4-14.
  • Breen, P. E., Díaz, M. C., & Vázquez, M. A. V. (2002). Conducta antisocial y desarrollo moral en el menor [Antisocial behaviour and moral development in under-18’ s]. Psicothema, 14, 26-36.
  • Brugman, D., & Aleva, A. E. (2004). Developmental delay or regression in moral reasoning by juvenile delinquents? Journal of Moral Education, 33(3), 321-338. doi: 10.1080/0305724042000733082
  • Brusten, C. M. (2002). Investigation of the moral reasoning of offending and non-offending adolescents using the sociomoral reflection measure-short form. Doctoral thesis. University of Oxford.
  • Carlo, G., Eisenberg, N., & Knight, G. P. (1992). An objective measure of adolescents’ prosocial moral reasoning. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 2(4), 331-349. doi: 10.1207/s15327795jra0204_3
  • Chandler, M., & Moran, T. (1990). Psychopathy and moral development: A comparative study of delinquent and nondelinquent youth. Development and Psychopathology, 2(3), 227-246. doi: 10.1017/ S0954579400000742
  • Chassey, R. A. (1999). A comparison of moral development of college student behavioral offenders and nonoffenders. Research Reports, 143, 1-14.
  • Cohn, E. S., Bucolo, D., Rebellon, C. J., & Van Gundy, K. (2010). An integrated model of legal and moral reasoning and rule-violating behavior: The role of legal attitudes. Law and Human Behavior, 34(4), 295-309. doi: 10.1007/s10979-009-9185-9
  • Colby, A., & Kohlberg, L. (1987). The measurement of moral judgment: Theoretical foundations and research validation. New York, EEUU: Cambridge University Press.
  • Couturier, L. C. (1980). An evaluation of group homes for delinquent male adolescents: The relationships of various program variables to the youths’ academic and talented achievements, school attendance, ego development, moral development, and group home behavior. Doctoral thesis. Temple University.
  • De Mey, J. R. P. B. (1993). Morele oordeelsvorming bij “antisociale” jongeren en scholieren. Pedagogische Studiën, 70, 46-55.
  • Eisenberg, N., Carlo, G., Murphy, B., & Van Court, P. (1995). Prosocial development in late adolescence: A longitudinal study. Child Development, 66(4), 1179-1197. doi: 10.2307/1131806
  • Eisikovits, Z., & Sagi, A. (1982). Moral development and discipline encounter in delinquent and nondelinquent adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 11(3), 217-230. doi: 10.1007/BF01537468
  • Emler, N. P., Heather, N., & Winton, M. (1978). Delinquency and the development of moral reasoning. British Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology, 17(4), 325-331. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8260.1978.tb00287
  • Eshel, Y., Keegelmass, S., & Breznitz, S. (1968). Moral judgment of lower-class delinquents. British Journal of Criminology, 8, 69-74.
  • Espinoza, R. L., & Ehrlich, A. (1989). Personality, family relationships, and moral development in chicano and black adolescent gang members. Doctoral thesis. University of Chicago.
  • Ewanyk, D. A. (1973). Disequilibrium as a source of inducing higher moral reasoning in delinquent boys. Doctoral thesis. University of Alberta.
  • Fleetwood, R. S. (1975). A Study Of The Relationship Between Moral Development Test Scores of Juvenile Delinquents And Their Group Membership In Structured Situations. Doctoral thesis. Oklahoma State University. Moral reasoning in adolescent offenders: A meta-analytic review
  • Fodor, E. M. (1972). Delinquency and susceptibility to social influence among adolescents as a function of level of moral development. The Journal of Social Psychology, 86(2), 257-260. doi: 10.1080/00224545.1972.9918626
  • Furnham, A., & Barratt, L. (1988). Moral judgement and personality differences in “problem children” and delinquents. Personality and Individual Differences, 9, 187-188. doi: 10.1016/01918869(88)90049-9
  • Garmon, L. C., Basinger, K. S., Gregg, V. R., & Gibbs, J. C. (1996). Gender differences in stage and expression of moral judgment. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 42(3), 418-437.
  • Gavaghan, M. P., Arnold, K. D., & Gibbs, J. C. (1983). Moral judgment in delinquents and nondelinquents: Recognition versus production measures. The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, 114(2), 267-274. doi: 10.1080/00223980.1983.9915424
  • Gibbs, J. C., Arnold, K. D., Morgan, R. L., Schwartz, E. S., Gavaghan, M. P., & Tappan, M. B. (1984). Construction and validation of a multiplechoice measure of moral reasoning. Child Development, 55(2), 527536. doi: 10.2307/1129963
  • Gibbs, J. C., Widaman, K. F., & Colby, A. (1982). Construction and validation of a simplified, group-administerable equivalent to the moral judgment interview. Child Development, 53(4), 895-910. doi: 10.2307/1129126
  • Gregg, V., Gibbs, J. C., & Basinger, K. S. (1994). Patterns of developmental delay in moral judgment by male and female delinquents. Merrill Palmer Quarterly, 40(4), 538-553.
  • Hains, A. A. (1981). The development of social cognitive processes among juvenile delinquents and nondelinquent peers. Doctoral thesis. University of Notre Dame.
  • Hains, A. A. (1984). Variables in social cognitive development: Moral judgment, role-taking, cognitive processes, and self-concept in delinquents and nondelinquents. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 4, 65-74. doi: 10.1177/0272431684041008
  • Hains, A. A., & Miller, D. J. (1980). Moral and cognitive development in delinquent and nondelinquent children and adolescents. The Journal of Genetic Psychology: Research and Theory on Human Development, 137, 21-35. doi: 10.1080/00221325.1980.10532799
  • Hanson, R. A., & Mullis, R. L. (1984). Moral reasoning in offender and nonoffender youth. The Journal of Genetic Psychology: Research and Theory on Human Development, 144(2), 295-296. doi:10.1080/00221 325.1984.9923439
  • Haviland, J. M. (1977). The punitive beliefs and behaviors of adolescent delinquent boys. Developmental Psychology, 13(6), 677-678. doi: 10.1037/0012-1649.13.6.677
  • Herzog, S., & Einat, T. (2016). Moral judgment, crime seriousness, and the relations between them: An exploratory study. Crime & Delinquency, 62(4), 470-500. doi: 10.1177/0011128712466889
  • Hickey, J. E. (1972). The effects of guided moral discussion upon youthful offenders’ level of moral judgment. Doctoral thesis. Boston University.
  • Hudgins, W., & Prentice, N. M. (1973). Moral judgment in delinquent and nondelinquent adolescents and their mothers. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 82, 145-152. doi: 10.1037/h0034958
  • Jurkovic, G. J. (1976). The relationship of moral and cognitive development of juvenile delinquency. Doctoral thesis. University of Texas.
  • Jurkovic, G. J., & Prentice, N. M. (1974). Dimensions of moral interaction and moral judgment in delinquent and nondelinquent families. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42(2), 256-262. doi: 10.1037/ h0036240
  • Jurkovic, G. J., & Prentice, N. M. (1977). Relation of moral and cognitive development to dimensions of juvenile delinquency. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 86(4), 414-420. doi: 10.1037/0021843X.86.4.414
  • Krettenauer, T., & Becker, G. (2001). Entwicklungsniveaus soziomoralischen denkens. deutschsprachige version des sociomoral reflection measure—short form. Diagnostica, 47(4), 188-195. doi: 10.1026//0012-1924.47.4.188.
  • Lahat, A., Gummerum, M., Mackay, L., & Hanoch, Y. (2015). Cognitive processing of moral and social judgements: A comparison of offenders, students, and control participants. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 68(2), 350-362. doi: 10.1080/17470218.2014.944918
  • Lardén, M., Melin, L., Holst, U., & Långström, N. (2006). Moral judgement, cognitive distortions and empathy in incarcerated delinquent and community control adolescents. Psychology, Crime & Law, 12(5), 453-462. doi:10.1080/10683160500036855
  • Lee, M., & Prentice, N. M. (1988). Interrelations of empathy, cognition, and moral reasoning with dimensions of juvenile delinquency. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 16, 127-139. doi: 10.1007/ BF00913589
  • Lind, G., and Huber, R. (1994). Why do juvenile delinquents gain little from moral discussion programs? Symposium: The limitations of developmental moral education: the challenge for future practice and research. American Educational Research Association (April 4-8, 1994). New Orleans.
  • Lipsey, M. W., & Wilson, D. B. (2001). Practical meta-analysis. Sage Publications, Inc, Thousand Oaks, CA.
  • Lopez, R. F. (2002). Aggressive behavior, moral judgment, and depression in 11--13 year old hispanic boys. Doctoral thesis. St. John’s University.
  • Martin, A. E. (2012). Moral development in female adolescence: A comparison of delinquent and non-delinquent girls. Doctoral thesis. Adelphi University.
  • McColgan, E. B., Rest, J. R., & Pruitt, D. B. (1983). Moral judgment and antisocial behavior in early adolescence. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 4(2), 189-199. doi: 10.1016/01933973(83)90006-0
  • Miller, C. K., Zumoff, L., & Stephens, B. (1974). A comparison of reasoning skills and moral judgments in delinquent, retarded, and normal adolescent girls. The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied, 86(2), 261-268. doi: 10.1080/00223980.1974.9924826
  • Morin, A. O. (2001). Le jugement moral des adolescents délinquants et non-délinquants. Doctoral thesis. Laurentian University.
  • Nelson, J. R., Smith, D. J., & Dodd, J. (1990). The moral reasoning of juvenile delinquents: A meta-analysis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 18(3), 231-239.
  • Niebieszczanski, R., Harkins, L., Judson, S., Smith, K., & Dixon, L. (2015). The role of moral disengagement in street gang offending. Psychology, Crime & Law, 21(6), 589-605. doi: 10.1080/1068316X.2015.1008476
  • Palmer, E. J., & Hollin, C. R. (1998). A comparison of patterns of moral development in young offenders and non-offenders. Legal and Criminological Psychology, 3, 225-235. doi: 10.1111/j.20448333.1998.tb00363
  • Palucka, A. M. (1998). Relationships of moral judgement, emotional empathy and impulsivity to criminal behaviour in young and adult offenders. Doctoral thesis. University of Toronto.
  • Raaijmakers, Q. A. W., Engels, R., & Van Hoof, A. (2005). Delinquency and moral reasoning in adolescence and young adulthood. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 29(3), 247-258. doi: 10.1080/01650250544000035
  • Rest, J. R. (1975). Longitudinal study of the defining issues test of moral judgment: A strategy for analyzing developmental change. Developmental Psychology, 11(6), 738-748. doi: 10.1037/0012-1649.11.6.738
  • Ritz, G. M. (1996). The relationship between moral reasoning and behavioral/emotional status in adolescents. Doctoral thesis. Brigman Young University.
  • Rosenthal, R. (1979). The file drawer problem and tolerance for null results. Psychological Bulletin, 86(3), 638-641. doi: 10.1037/00332909.86.3.638
  • Ruma, E. H. (1967). Conscience Development In Delinquents And Nondelinquents: The Relationship Between Moral Judgment, Guilt, And Behavior. Doctoral thesis. The Ohio State University.
  • Rutten, E. A., Brugman, D., Stams, G. J. J. M., Dekovic, M., & Hendriks, J. (2006). Moral cognition, moral emotion and norm-transgressive behaviour in delinquent and nondelinquent youth. Doctoral thesis. University of Amsterdam.
  • Ryan, M. F. (1984). Anxiety, Moral Development And Perception Of Behavioral Consequences In Delinquent And Nondelinquent Adolescents. Doctoral thesis. University of Nebraska.
  • Sagi, A., and Eisikovitz, Z. (1981). Juvenile delinquency and moral development. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 8, 79-93.
  • Schalkwijk, F., Jan Stams, G., Stegge, H., Dekker, J., & Peen, J. (2016). The conscience as a regulatory function: Empathy, shame, pride, guilt, and moral orientation in delinquent adolescents. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 60(6), 675-693. doi: 10.1177/0306624X14561830
  • Schmidlin, S. S. (1975). Moral Judgment And Delinquency: The Effect Of Institutionalization And Peer Pressure. Doctoral thesis. University of Florida.
  • Schnell, S. V. (1986). Delinquents With Mature Moral Reasoning: A Comparison With Delayed Delinquents And Mature Nondelinquents (social, Moral Development, Psychotherapy, Values, Mmpi, Neutralization). Doctoral thesis. The Ohio State University.
  • Stams, G. J., Brugman, D., Deković, M., van Rosmalen, L., Van, d. L., & Gibbs, J. C. (2006). The moral judgment of juvenile delinquents: A meta-analysis. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 34(5), 697-713. doi: 10.1007/s10802-006-9056-5
  • Summers, D. R. (1999). Conduct-disordered youth: A comparative study of personality traits, relationships, and moral development. Doctoral thesis. Brigham Young University.
  • Tarry, H., & Emler, N. (2007). Attitude, values and moral reasoning as predictors of delinquency. British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 25(2), 169-183. doi: 10.1348/026151006X113671
  • Taylor, J. H. (1996). Moral climate and the development of moral reasoning: The effects of dyadic discussions between young offenders. Doctoral thesis. University of British Columbia.
  • Trevethan, S. D., & Walker, L. J. (1989). Hypothetical versus real-life moral reasoning among psychopathic and delinquent youth. Development and Psychopathology, 1, 91-103. doi: 10.1017/S0954579400000286
  • Urrutia, G., & Bonfi ll, X. (2010). Declaración PRISMA: una propuesta para mejorar la publicación de revisiones sistemáticas y metaanálisis
  • [PRISMA statement: a proposal to improve the publication of systematic reviews and meta-analyzes]. Medicina Clínica, 135, 507511. doi: 10.1016/j.medcli.2010.01.015
  • Van Vugt, E., Stams, G. J., Dekovic, M., Brugman, D., Rutten, E., & Hendriks, J. (2008). Moral development of solo juvenile sex offenders. Journal of Sexual Aggression, 14(2), 99-109. doi: 10.1080/13552600802248106
  • Villegas, d. P., & Vargas-Trujillo, E. (2015). Moral reasoning and personal behavior: A meta-analytical review. Review of General Psychology, 19(4), 408-424. doi: 10.1037/gpr0000053
  • Wilson, D. B. (2005). Meta-analysis macros for SAS, SPSS, and Stata. Wissink, I. B., Deković, M., Stams, G., Asscher, J. J., Rutten, E., &
  • Zijlstra, B. J. H. (2014). Moral orientation and relationships in school and adolescent proand antisocial behaviors: A multilevel study. The Journal of School Nursing, 30(3), 216-225. doi: 10.1177/1059840513497402
  • Wood, J. L., Alleyne, E., Mozova, K., & James, M. (2014). Predicting involvement in prison gang activity: Street gang membership, social and psychological factors. Law and Human Behavior, 38(3), 203-211. doi: 10.1037/lhb0000053
  • Kohlberg, L. (1958). The Development Of Modes Of Moral Thinking And Choice In The Years 10 To 16. Doctoral thesis. University of Chicago.
  • Wu, P., & Liu, H. (2014). Association between moral reasoning and moral behavior: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Psychologica Clinica, 46(8), 1192-1207.
  • Wyatt, J. M., & Carlo, G. (2002). What will my parents think? relations among adolescents’ expected parental reactions, prosocial moral reasoning, and prosocial and antisocial behaviors. Journal of Adolescent Research, 17(6), 646-666.
  • Youngman, W. K. (1996). Exploring the connection between levels of moral reasoning and disruptive behaviors in 12-to-16 year old males. Doctoral thesis. University of Cincinnati.