Moral cognitive processes explaining antisocial behavior in young adolescents

Abstract

This study addresses the longitudinal relationships between three kinds of moral cognitions — self-serving cognitive distortions, moral judgment, perception of community — and antisocial behavior in young adolescents. Aims were to gain insight in direct and indirect relationships, stability, and causality. The sample included 724 students (M age = 14.52, SD =.67) from prevocational secondary schools in the Netherlands. Both self reports and teacher reports were filled out twice, with a time-interval of four months. Students exhibited high rates of aggression, vandalism, and stealing, indicating that they form an at-risk group for antisocial behavior. Positive associations were found between self-serving cognitive distortions and antisocial behavior and between moral judgment and perception of community, while negative associations were found between perception of community and both self-serving cognitive distortions and antisocial behavior. Longitudinal structural equation models established a moderate to high stability of the moral cognitions and antisocial behavior, and indicated that self-reported antisocial behavior primarily preceded self-serving cognitive distortions. Although moderation by sex and ethnicity was established, differences between the groups appeared to be modest. The consequences of these findings for prevention and treatment of antisocial behavior are discussed.