An integrated model of legal and moral reasoning and rule-violating behavior: The role of legal attitudes.

Abstract

Legal socialization theory predicts that attitudes mediate the relation between legal reasoning and rule-violating behavior [Cohn, E. S., & White, S. O. (1990). Legal Socialization: A Study of Norms and Rules. New York: Springer-Verlag]. Moral development theory predicts that moral reasoning predicts rule-violating behavior directly as well as indirectly [Blasi, A. (1980). Bridging moral cognition and moral action: A critical review of the literature. Psychological Bulletin, 88, 1-45]. We present and test an integrated model of rule-violating behavior drawing on both theories in a longitudinal study of middle school and high school students. Students completed questionnaires three times during the course of 1 year at 6-month intervals. Legal and moral reasoning, legal attitudes, and rule-violating behavior were measured at times one, two, and three respectively. Structural equation models revealed that while moral and legal reasoning were directly and indirectly related to rule-violating behavior among high school students, legal reasoning bore no direct relation to rule-violating behavior among middle school students. The implications for an integrated model of reasoning and rule-violating behavior are discussed.

Applying Legal Socialization to the Child Welfare System: Do Youths’ Perceptions of Caseworkers Matter?

“…These attitudes and beliefs become internalized, which subsequently shapes behavior compliance with rules, norms, and the institutions and authorities charged with enforcing them (Fagan and Tyler 2005). It is a developmental process, as individuals begin to acquire these attitudes during childhood and adolescence and these views shape beliefs in adulthood (Cohn et al 2010;Fagan and Tyler 2005). These attitudes are important because numerous studies have found that beliefs in the legitimacy of the law and legal system shape an individual's law abiding or violating behavior (Tyler 2006;Tyler and Huo 2002).…”

“…Both forms of reasoning are distinct cognitive parts that affect adolescent behavior, and may affect youth behavior differently depending on a youth's age (Cohn et al 2010). Compared to younger adolescents, older adolescents, who may understand abstract concepts better, may more clearly recognize why laws need to be obeyed, thus affecting their law-abiding behavior (Cohn et al 2010).…”

“…Compared to younger adolescents, older adolescents, who may understand abstract concepts better, may more clearly recognize why laws need to be obeyed, thus affecting their law-abiding behavior (Cohn et al 2010). Fagan and Tyler (2005) have argued for a social learning or interaction approach (see also Fagan and Piquero 2007;Piquero et al 2005).…”

“…Other factors also contribute to shaping one's views, including contextual characteristics such as peers, families, and neighborhoods (Fagan and Tyler 2005). These views are related to rule abiding or violating behavior and a number of studies have found relationships between legal socialization and delinquent behavior among young people (Cohn et al 2010(Cohn et al , 2012Fagan and Piquero 2007;Fagan and Tyler 2005;Piquero et al 2005). One study found a key factor in the presence or absence of guilt for delinquent behavior among incarcerated adolescents was whether they viewed the legal procedures through which they were processed as fair (Otto and Dalbert 2005).…”

“…Studies of legal socialization have used both community and delinquent samples (Cohn et al 2010;Fagan and Piquero 2007;Fagan and Tyler 2005;Piquero et al 2005). Recent work on delinquent samples focuses on a sample of violent and serious juvenile offenders from Philadelphia and Arizona (Fagan and Piquero 2007;Piquero et al 2005).…”