An overview of the relationship between moral reasoning and offending

Abstract

Through research it has been established that there is a relationship between level of moral reasoning and offending behaviour, with offenders generally reasoning at less mature levels than non-offenders. However, recent research looking at this association in more detail has revealed that it may be only certain moral values that are associated with offending. There has also been little research on the psychological mechanisms that may mediate the relationship between moral reasoning and offending. Therefore, this paper attempts to place moral reasoning theory into a wider theoretical model of delinquency, arguing that the development of moral reasoning and other social cognitive processes are influenced by children's early socialisation experiences. These social cognitive factors, such as social information processing and the cognitions that impact on this (including moral reasoning), are seen as significant in determining individuals' behaviour in social situations. This theory is then used as a basis for suggestions for incorporating moral reasoning into effective interventions with offenders.