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Moral reasoning theory and people with intellectual disabilities

Langdon, Peter E., Clare, Isabel C. H., Murphy, Glynis H. (2011) Moral reasoning theory and people with intellectual disabilities. Psychology, Crime & Law, 17 (2). pp. 101-115. ISSN 1068-316X. (doi:10.1080/10683160903392384) (KAR id:36177)

Abstract

Many studies conclude there is a strong relationship between moral reasoning and illegal behaviour amongst young offenders. However, there has been no research examining this relationship amongst people with intellectual disabilities. There is some empirical evidence to suggest that the relationship between moral reasoning and illegal behaviour may be curvilinear, such that lower moral reasoning and higher moral reasoning relates to lower rates of illegal behaviour and inappropriate conduct. Given this, and evidence that people with intellectual disabilities are reasoning at a lower moral stage than their same-age peers, it is proposed that some people with intellectual disabilities may actually be less likely to engage in illegal behaviour because they are reasoning at an earlier moral stage, while those with ‘borderline’ intelligence would be more likely to engage in illegal behaviour. This suggests that the relationship between moral reasoning and illegal behaviour is moderated by intelligence, and this has implications for the design of intervention programmes for people with intellectual disabilities, but further research is needed.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/10683160903392384
Uncontrolled keywords: moral reasoning, moral development, learning disabilities, criminal offending, inverted U curve
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Tizard
Depositing User: Peter Langdon
Date Deposited: 11 Nov 2013 15:41 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:13 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/36177 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Langdon, Peter E..

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Murphy, Glynis H..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7817-5861
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