| Abstract: | Previous research with normal elementary school children and adolescent delinquents had demonstrated the effectiveness of modeling procedures in promoting their level of intentionality (i.e., the developmentally more mature judgment of a misdeed in terms of intent rather than consequent material damages). The present study with 20 male juvenile delinquents (mean age = 12 yrs) investigated the extent to which such increases in intentionality reflect the appearance of previously acquired responses, rather than the learning of new behaviors as a consequence of modeling. Following establishment of a baseline, Ss were exposed to a manipulation in which money and adult moral set maximized the operation of old moral response styles but precluded the learning of new ones. Posttest evaluation revealed significant increases of 20% in level of intentionality in experimental Ss in comparison with controls. Alternative interpretations of these effects are considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
