NCJ Number
184949
Date Published
1999
Length
20 pages
Annotation
After reviewing the historical and theoretical development of moral reasoning theories, this chapter summarizes the body of research on the moral reasoning of juvenile delinquents.
Abstract
The body of research on the moral reasoning of juvenile delinquents can be divided into three types. The first type of research has been concerned with establishing whether or not delinquents reason differently from nondelinquents. The research has found that delinquents, compared to their nondelinquent peers, generally achieve lower moral reasoning scores. The second type of research involves attempts to raise the moral reasoning stages of delinquents to the conventional level through an intervention called the moral discussion group. The third type of research on juvenile delinquency and moral reasoning has to do with the relationship between moral reasoning and behavior. Overall, this review of the literature about the moral reasoning of juvenile delinquents raises as many questions as it answers. Despite the number of studies conducted, no clear consensus emerges. One reason for this lies in the flaws of current research methodologies. More rigorous studies that avoid the pitfalls of the current literature must be conducted. Despite the shortcomings of research, the public's overwhelming belief in the causal force of moral deficits in producing delinquency is rapidly transforming not only education policy, but also juvenile justice programming. 48 references