Cognitive Underpinnings of Moral Reasoning in Adolescence: The Contribution of Executive Functions
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| Title: | Cognitive Underpinnings of Moral Reasoning in Adolescence: The Contribution of Executive Functions |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Vera-Estay, E., Dooley, J. J., Beauchamp, M. H. |
| Source: | Journal of Moral Education. 2015 44(1):17-33. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 325 Chestnut Street Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Fax: 215-625-2940; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 17 |
| Publication Date: | 2015 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Moral Values, Moral Development, Developmental Stages, Adolescents, Age, Intelligence, Nonverbal Ability, Verbal Ability, Decision Making, Predictor Variables, Executive Function, Visual Stimuli, Correlation, Intelligence Tests, Measures (Individuals), Social Cognition, Innovation, Measurement, Maturity (Individuals), Foreign Countries, Statistical Analysis |
| Geographic Terms: | Canada |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | Trail Making Test |
| DOI: | 10.1080/03057240.2014.986077 |
| ISSN: | 0305-7240 |
| Abstract: | Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by intense changes, which impact the interaction between individuals and their environments. Moral reasoning (MR) is an important skill during adolescence because it guides social decisions between right and wrong. Identifying the cognitive underpinnings of MR is essential to understanding the development of this function. The aim of this study was to explore predictors of MR in typically developing adolescents (n = 92, 33 males, M = 16.3 years, SD = 2.2 years) and the specific contribution of higher order cognitive processing using an innovative visual MR assessment tool and measures of executive functioning and intelligence. MR maturity was correlated with four executive functions (cognitive flexibility, feedback utilization, conceptual reasoning, verbal fluency) and was predicted by four variables: age, intelligence, nonverbal flexibility and verbal fluency. Overall, these results contribute to a better understanding of MR during adolescence and highlight the importance of using innovative tools to measure social cognition. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 73 |
| Entry Date: | 2015 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1055231 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by intense changes, which impact the interaction between individuals and their environments. Moral reasoning (MR) is an important skill during adolescence because it guides social decisions between right and wrong. Identifying the cognitive underpinnings of MR is essential to understanding the development of this function. The aim of this study was to explore predictors of MR in typically developing adolescents (n = 92, 33 males, M = 16.3 years, SD = 2.2 years) and the specific contribution of higher order cognitive processing using an innovative visual MR assessment tool and measures of executive functioning and intelligence. MR maturity was correlated with four executive functions (cognitive flexibility, feedback utilization, conceptual reasoning, verbal fluency) and was predicted by four variables: age, intelligence, nonverbal flexibility and verbal fluency. Overall, these results contribute to a better understanding of MR during adolescence and highlight the importance of using innovative tools to measure social cognition. |
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| ISSN: | 0305-7240 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/03057240.2014.986077 |
