The relationships between moral reasoning, empathy and distorted cognitions amongst men with and without intellectual disabilities who have a history of criminal offending: a comparison study

Eighty men, spread equally across 4 groups, were recruited, including men with and

without intellectual disabilities. The men were either criminal offenders or nonoffenders.

Participants completed measures of moral reasoning, empathy, and distorted cognitions.

The results indicated that the moral reasoning abilities of offenders with intellectual

disabilities were developmentally delayed but were still more mature than those of

nonoffenders with intellectual disabilities. Offenders without intellectual disabilities had

less mature moral reasoning abilities than nonoffenders without intellectual disabilities.

The differences may be partially accounted for by intellectual ability. The results also

indicated that the relationship between empathy and distorted cognitions was mediated by

moral reasoning. The findings have implications for the use of psychological interventions

with offenders with intellectual disabilities.