Addressing gaps in the maturity of judgment literature: Age differences and delinquency.

Abstract

Over the past decade, a majority of states have legislated to expand their capacity to try adolescents as adults [Griffin (2003). Trying and sentencing juveniles as adults: An analysis of state transfer and blended sentencing laws. Pittsburgh, PA: National Center for Juvenile Justice]. In response, researchers have investigated factors that may affect adolescent culpability [Steinberg and Scott (Am Psychol 58(12):1009-1018, 2003)]. Research on immature judgment posits that psychosocial influences on adolescent decision processes results in reduced criminal responsibility [Cauffman and Steinberg (Behav Sci Law 18(6):741-760, 2000); Scott, Reppucci, and Woolard (Law Hum Behav 19(3):221-244, 1995); Steinberg and Cauffman (Law Hum Behav 20(3):249-272, 1996)]. The current study utilizes hypothetical vignettes and standardized measures of maturity of judgment (responsibility, temperance, and perspective) to examine gaps in previous maturity of judgment findings (Cauffman and Steinberg 2000). This work suggests that adolescents (ages 14-17) display less responsibility and perspective relative to college students (ages 18-21), young-adults (ages 22-27), and adults (ages 28-40). Further, this research finds no maturity of judgment differences between delinquent and non-delinquent youth, but does find significant maturity of judgment differences between high and low delinquency male youth. Finally, results show that maturity of judgment predicts self-reported delinquency beyond the contributions of age, gender, race, education level, SES, and antisocial decision making. Implications for the juvenile justice system are discussed.

Mapping Developmental Precursors of Cyber-Aggression: Trajectories of Risk Predict Perpetration and Victimization

“…; Modecki, 2008;2009) and also is a time of increased risk for poor mental health, including depression (e.g. Lewinsohn, Rohde, & Seeley, 1998).…”

Obstacles to Research in Residential Juvenile Justice Facilities: Recommendations for Researchers

“…They may assume that the researchers are connected to the facility, their placement, or their treatment in some way. Juvenile justice-involved youths also typically have higher rates of mental health disorders (Shufelt & Cocozza, 2006) and learning disabilities (Cruise, Evans & Pickens, 2011;Eggleston, 2008), lower intelligence scores (Redding & Arrigo, 2005), and lower levels of psychosocial maturity (Modecki, 2008) than their non-delinquent counterparts, which generate additional considerations when designing consent and assent documents and procedures.…”

Throwing Caution to the Wind: Callous-Unemotional Traits and Risk Taking in Adolescents

“…Both self-report and behavioral measures indicate that adolescents are uniquely driven towards increased risk when in the presence of peers (Gardner & Steinberg, 2005). With psychosocial maturity, adolescents become less susceptible to negative peer influence, which relates to decreases in antisocial behavior (Modecki, 2008;Monahan, Steinberg, & Cauffman, Callous-Unemotional Traits and Risk-Taking 5 2009; Steinberg & Monahan, 2007). Two competing hypotheses predict how youths with CU traits may be affected by the presence of peers.…”