psychological explanations: cognitive:level of moral reasoning

+evidence to link level of moral reasoning to crime

Emma palmer & Clive Joplin: compared moral reasoning in 332 non offenders and 126 convicted offenders

• offender group showed less mature moral reasoning than non offender group

(Used socio moral reflection measure short form which contains 11 moral dilemma-related questions)

-level of moral reasoning may depend on the offence

David Thornton & Reid: found that ppl who committed crimes for financial gain were more likely to show pre-conventional moral reasoning than those convicted of impulsive crimes(assault)

Pre-conventional moral reasoning associated crimes with offenders who believe they have a good chance of evading punishment

+Kohlbergs theory is useful in that it provides insight into the mechanics of the criminal mind

Offenders may be more childish when comes to making moral judgments than the law-abiding majority

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