Understanding and Reforming Moral Misbehavior among Behaviorally Disordered Adolescents

Abstract

This article reviews the past research and principles for facilitating moral growth through group discussion and the theories of judgment-action discrepancies. It suggests that an approach which takes into account the moral claim the troubled child is “acting out” in moral misbehavior must be addressed if moral growth is to be fostered. The article suggests a model for reforming moral misbehavior which employs an intervention technique using the actual moral misbehaviors as the basis for both moral discussion and behavioral intervention to produce an effective change in moral behavior.