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COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENTAL THEORY: A Basis for Juvenile Correctional Reform?
Author(s) -
MORASH MERRY ANN
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
criminology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.467
H-Index - 139
eISSN - 1745-9125
pISSN - 0011-1384
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-9125.1981.tb00422.x
Subject(s) - appeal , psychology , cognition , association (psychology) , test (biology) , ideology , empirical research , social psychology , epistemology , law , political science , psychotherapist , politics , paleontology , neuroscience , biology , philosophy
Cognitive developmental theory has been increasingly offered as on explanation for lawbreaking. The theory suggests that lawbreaking results from individuals not having sufficiently developed reasoning abilities to resolve moral dilemmas, specificially those involving illegal acts. This article reports on on original test of the association between reasoning and law‐breaking and addresses shortcomings of prior research. The article concludes that although the theory has been recommended and used as a basis for program design, there is little evidence to suggest that reasoning is, indeed, related to lawbreaking. Since ideological appeal of the theory may result in its adoption in program settings, continued empirical testing of hy‐potheses derived from the theory is of considerable importance.