2,525
Views
24
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Articles

Cognitive underpinnings of moral reasoning in adolescence: The contribution of executive functions

, &
Pages 17-33 | Published online: 18 Dec 2014
 

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.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

E. Vera-Estay

E. Vera-Estay, Department of Psychology, University of Montreal

J.J. Dooley

J.J. Dooley, Cuyahoga County Court Psychiatric Clinic Justice Center, Cleveland

M.H. Beauchamp

M.H. Beauchamp, Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, and Sainte-Justine Hospital Research Center, Montreal

Log in via your institution

Log in to Taylor & Francis Online

PDF download + Online access

  • 48 hours access to article PDF & online version
  • Article PDF can be downloaded
  • Article PDF can be printed
USD 53.00 Add to cart

Issue Purchase

  • 30 days online access to complete issue
  • Article PDFs can be downloaded
  • Article PDFs can be printed
USD 243.00 Add to cart

* Local tax will be added as applicable

Related Research

People also read lists articles that other readers of this article have read.

Recommended articles lists articles that we recommend and is powered by our AI driven recommendation engine.

Cited by lists all citing articles based on Crossref citations.
Articles with the Crossref icon will open in a new tab.