A Comparison of Reasoning Skills and Moral Judgments in Delinquent, Retarded, and Normal Adolescent Girls

Abstract

Summary A study was made of the reasoning and moral judgment development of female delinquents. The subjects consisted of 30 adolescents incarcerated in an institution. The level of development of 16 of these delinquents was compared with that of 16 retarded and 16 normal subjects. Results indicated that the delinquents showed arrestations in their cognitive development but demonstrated no gaps in their ability to formulate moral judgments. Findings suggest that Piagetian assessment would be useful in planning habilitation programs for delinquents.