(2015) The moral reasoning abilities of men and women with intellectual disabilities who have a history of criminal offending behaviour. Legal
AbstractPurpose. The current study had the following two aims (a) to examine the moral reasoning abilities of four groups of people: (i) men and women with IDs who had a documented history of criminal offending, and (ii) men and women with IDs and no such history, and (b) to examine the relationship between emotional and behavioural problems and moral reasoning. It was predicted that (a) there would be no significant difference between the moral reasoning of men and women with IDs, (b) men and women with IDs who are not offenders will have "developmentally immature" moral reasoning in comparison to offenders, and (c) moral reasoning will significantly predict emotional and behavioural problems. Methods. Sixty-eight men and women with mild intellectual disabilities (IDs) with and without a history of criminal offending were recruited and asked to complete measures of intelligence, moral reasoning, and emotional/behavioural problems.Results. As predicted, men and women did not have different moral reasoning, but offenders did have "developmentally more mature" moral reasoning than nonoffenders. Women had higher levels of physical and verbal aggression, while offenders, generally, had higher levels of psychopathology. Women with a history of criminal offending had higher levels of sexually inappropriate behaviour compared to men and women in the community. Moral reasoning significantly predicted emotional and behavioural problems. Conclusions. Further work in this area is needed, and interventions that aim to address a moral developmental "delay" may be beneficial in reducing recidivism amongst this population.Running head: MORAL REASONING