NCJ Number
81900
Journal
Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1979) Pages: 32-43
Date Published
1979
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The study examined the question of whether female juvenile delinquents attain a higher level of moral judgment after passing through certain stages of reeducation.
Abstract
Subjects were 29 adolescent girls aged 14 to 17 in a reeducational institution in Montreal, Canada. All were of below-average intelligence, with histories of delinquency, and from unstable, low-income familes. They were chosen for the study at different points in the reeducation process: 10 newly admitted, 10 at mid-term, and 9 at course completion. During voluntary interviews, subjects were asked to make decisions on moral dilemmas presented as four case histories. The hypothetical situations elicited responses revealing maturity of attitudes to authority and concern for others. Stages of moral development were ranked from obedience under threat of punishment, to naive self-gratification, and finally to voluntary conformity in the common interest. Results showed that the moral judgment of the treated group was more advanced than that of subjects as yet without benefit of the educational program. However, personality aspects such as relationship with parents and sexuality were not affected by treatment. Tabular data, 17 references, and notes are given.