NCJ Number
112896
Journal
Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology Volume: 16 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1988) Pages: 127-139
Date Published
1988
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The interrelations of a variety of indices of sociocognitive development (empathy, role-taking, logical cognition, and moral reasoning) were studied in 150 delinquent males in a large State juvenile correctional facility and 18 nondelinquent adolescents selected from a pool of 60 public high schools.
Abstract
Delinquent males (grouped into psychopathic, neurotic, and subcultural subgroups) and a matched nondelinquent comparison group were administered individually two empathy scales (the Davis Interpersonal Reactivity Index and the Mehrabian and Epstein Questionnaire Measure of Emotional Empathy), and adaption of Byrne's and Flavell's role-taking tasks, two Piagetian cognitive tasks, and two of Kohlberg's structured moral dilemmas. Delinquents as a group displayed significantly more immature modes of role-taking, logical cognition, and moral reasoning than did nondelinquents. The delinquent subgroups, however, did not significantly differ from one another on these dimensions. Tabular data and 35 references. (Author abstract modified)