Abstract
To test the hypothesized immaturity of juvenile delinquents' moral reasoning, the results of 15 studies of the moral reasoning of juvenile delinquents were integrated quantitatively using meta-analysis. Hedges and Olkin (1985) methods were used to (a) compute effect sizes, (b) test the homogeneity of the obtained effect sizes, and (c) test the statistical significance of the pooled mean effect size. The results supported the hypothesis that the moral reasoning of juvenile delinquents is immature. It was concluded that several other issues are in need of investigation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alterman, A. I., Druley, K. A., Connolly, R., & Bush, D. (1978). A comparison of moral reasoning in drug addicts and nonaddicts.Journal of Clinical Psychology, 34, 790–794.
Betke, M. A. (1944). Defective moral reasoning and delinquency: A psychological study.Catholic University of America Studies in Psychology and Psychiatry, 6(4).
Blasi, A. (1980). Bridging moral cognition and moral action: A critical review of the literature.Psychological Bulletin, 88, 1–45.
Campagna, A. F., & Harter, S. (1975). Moral Judgments in sociopathic and normal children.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 31, 199–205.
Fincham, F. (1977). A comparison of moral judgment in learning disabled and normal achieving boys.Journal of Psychology, 96, 153–160.
Fodor, E. M. (1972). Delinquency and susceptibility of social influence among adolescents as a function of moral development.Journal of Social Psychology, 85, 121–126.
Fodor, E. M. (1973). Moral development and parent behavior antecedents in adolescent psychopaths.Journal of Genetic Psychology, 122, 37–43.
Gilligan, C. (1977). In a different voice.Harvard Educational Review, 47, 365–378.
Haviland, J. M. (1977). The punitive beliefs and behaviors of adolescent delinquent boys.Developmental Psychology, 13, 677–678.
Hawk, S., & Peterson, R. A. (1974). Do MMPI psychopathic deviancy scores reflect psychopathic deviancy or just deviancy?Journal of Personality Assessment, 38, 362–368.
Hedges, L., & Olkin, I. (1985).Statistical methods for meta-analysis. London: Academic Press.
Hudgins, W., & Prentice, N. M. (1973). Moral judgment in delinquent and nondelinquent adolescents and their mothers.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 82, 145–152.
Jurkovic, G. J. (1976). The relationship of moral and cognitive development to dimensions of juvenile delinquency (Doctoral dissertation, University of Texas at Austin, 1975).Dissertation Abstracts International, 36, 5262B. (University Microfilms No. 76-8,054)
Jurkovic, G. J. (1980). The juvenile delinquent as a moral philosopher: A structural-developmental perspective.Psychological Bulletin, 88, 709–727.
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, 256–262.
Kanter, J. E. (1976). The relationship between moral judgment and personality variables in adult offenders (Doctoral dissertation, Purdue University, 1975).Dissertation Abstracts International, 36, 5262B–5263B. (University Microfilms No. 76-7,088)
Kohlberg, L. (1958).The development of modes of moral thinking and choice in the years ten to sisteen. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Chicago.
Kohlberg, L. (1969). Stage and sequence: The cognitive-developmental approach to socialization. In D. Goslin (Ed.),Handbook of specialization theory (pp. 347–480). New York: Rand McNally.
Kohlberg, L., & Freundlich, D. (1977).Moral judgment in youthful offenders. Unpublished manuscript, Harvard University.
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.
Miller, C. K., Zumoff, L., & Stephens, B. A. (1974). A comparison of reasoning skills and moral judgments in delinquent, retarded, and normal adolescent girls.Journal of Psychology, 85, 261–268.
Ruma, E. H. (1967). Conscience development in delinquents and non-delinquents: The relationship between moral judgment, guilt, and behavior (Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 1967).Dissertation Abstracts International, 28, 263IB. (University Microfilms No. 67-16,331)
Schlaefli, A., Rest, J. R., & Thoma, S. J. (1985). Does moral education improve moral judgment? A meta-analysis of intervention studies using the defining issues test.Review of Educational Research, 55(3), 319–352.
Schmidlin, S. S. (1977). Moral judgment and delinquency: The effect of institutionalization and peer pressure (Doctoral dissertation, University of Florida, 1975).Dissertation Abstracts International, 37, 3630B. (University Microfilms No. 77-124)
Sigman, M., Ungerer, J. A., & Russell, A. (1983). Moral judgment in relation to behavioral and cognitive disorders in adolescents.Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 11, 503–512.
Thompson, R. H., White, K. R., & Morgan, D. P. (1982). Teacher-student interaction patterns in classrooms with mainstreamed mildly handicapped students.American Educational Research Journal, 19, 220–236.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nelson, J.R., Smith, D.J. & Dodd, J. The moral reasoning of juvenile delinquents: A meta-analysis. J Abnorm Child Psychol 18, 231–239 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916562
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00916562