Dimensions of moral interaction and moral judgment in delinquent and nondelinquent families.

Investigated the intrinsic relationship of parental morality to the development of delinquent behavior in the child. Ss were 8 delinquent and 8 nondelinquent male adolescents and their mothers. The level of moral maturity for mother and son was established through individual administration of L. Kohlberg's structured moral dilemmas, and each adolescent delinquent and nondelinquent and his mother were presented jointly with additional moral dilemmas and instructed to reach mutual agreement on their solution. Analysis of moral discussion between mother and son revealed significant differences between delinquent and nondelinquent families on a variety of interaction dimensions. The relationship of these dimensions to moral judgment and to delinquent behavior is explored. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)