Use of Moral Discussion as an Intervention with Delinquents

Abstract

Delinquents participated in 7 weekly small group discussions of their judgments in response to Kohlberg-type moral dilemmas. 13 boys' and 6 girls' stages of moral reasoning were assessed before and after these discussions. Premoral thought was reduced; most subjects either achieved or were in transition to stage 3 reasoning. Groups who stimulated strong participant involvement produced the most change in moral judgment. Data did not confirm the expectation that high levels of participation would lead to above average gains by individual subjects.