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Adolescent Morality: Its Differentiated Structure And Relation To Delinquent Conduct
Multivariate Behavioral Research
|January 28, 2016
Summary
Delinquent boys perceive informing on others as more wrong than non-delinquent boys. However, non-delinquent boys view identity conflict behaviors as more wrong, suggesting nuanced moral value differences.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Criminology
- Sociology
Background:
- Moral values are complex and may differ between delinquent and non-delinquent youth.
- Understanding these differences is crucial for addressing juvenile delinquency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the dimensions of moral values in high school-aged delinquent and non-delinquent boys.
- To compare the moral judgments of these two groups on specific value dimensions.
Main Methods:
- Cluster analysis was used on a moral values scale administered to 100 matched pairs of delinquent and non-delinquent boys.
- Four reliable dimensions were identified: informing, masculine inadequacy, identity conflict, and aggression.
Main Results:
- Delinquent boys rated informing on others as more wrong than non-delinquent boys.
- Non-delinquent boys rated identity conflict behaviors as more wrong than delinquent boys.
- No significant relationships were found between moral value dimensions and age, race, social status, or verbal intelligence.
Conclusions:
- Delinquency may not stem from ignorance of societal values, but from adopting deviant subculture values.
- Moral judgments concerning informing and identity conflict differ between delinquent and non-delinquent youth.
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