Cognitive style and moral judgement in mentally handicapped and non‐handicapped children of equal mental age*

Abstract

Forty‐seven mentally handicapped and 47 non‐handicapped children matched on mental age were assessed with Kagan's Matching Familiar Figures Test (MFFT) and a Piagetian measure designed to elicit moral judgements. No significant differences were observed in the error and latency scores between the two groups nor in the proportion of reflective, impulsive, fast/accurate or slow/inaccurate individuals. The results also indicated that the subjects did not differ in their level of moral judgement; although reflectives made moral judgements on the basis of intention rather than consequence. Moral judgement was not significantly correlated with performance on the MFFT. The findings were interpreted as being consistent with Zigler's developmental concept of cultural‐familial retardation and suggesting that the ability to solve moral dilemmas appears to involve cognitive capacities.