NCJ Number
223963
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal Volume: 32 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2008 Pages: 732-737
Date Published
July 2008
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study examined trauma-related predictors of deontic reasoning (i.e., reasoning about duties and obligations) in children.
Abstract
Results of the study provide preliminary evidence that deontic reasoning is associated with dissociation in children. The results contribute to the growing literature on information processing alterations associated with maltreatment. Deontic reasoning involves reasoning about “what one may, ought, or may not do in a given set of circumstances.” Deontic reasoning is critical to navigating social relationships and institutions. Impoverished deontic reasoning abilities can place individuals at high risk for being taken advantage of in relationships or failing to protect against harm. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether dissociation was linked with deontic reasoning errors in school-aged children. Specifically, it was hypothesized that higher levels of dissociation would be associated with more errors in deontic reasoning problems. Tables and references