Moral reasoning and conduct problems in children with emotional and behavioural difficulties

This study investigates whether performance on the moral/conventional distinction measure predicts level of childhood conduct problems as indexed by the Psychopathy Screening Device [Frick, P. J., Hare, R. D. (1996). The psychopathy screening device. Toronto: Multi-Health Systems.]. One-hundred and two children with emotional and behavioural difficulties were presented with the moral/conventional distinction measure. Performance on the moral/conventional distinction measure did predict extent of behavioural disturbance. The results are interpreted within the Violence Inhibition Mechanism model of normal and atypical moral development. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.