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Borrowing or Stealing: The Language and Moral Development of Criminals and Noncriminals

The present study was undertaken (1) to compare the connotative meanings criminals attach to a sampling of concepts with those meanings attached by noncriminals, and (2) to examine the possible relationship between moral development and criminal behavior. One hundred thirty four male subjects completed the Wide Range Achievement Test- Revised (Reading Section); a personal data sheet; the Ammons Quick Test-Form I; the Criminal Semantic Inventory; the Test for Criminal Cognitions; and the Sociomoral Reflection Questionnaire. Subjects were divided into four groups (Noncriminals, Against Person Group, Against Property Group, and Against Statute Group) on the basis of history of criminal conviction. A one-way MANOVA was conducted on each of the 16 concepts under investigation. Significant differences were found for five concepts. In addition, criminals were found to differ significantly from noncriminals on level of moral development.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc331861
Date08 1900
CreatorsHaynes, Linda Carol
ContributorsPeek, Leon A., Lewis, Franklin D., Toledo, Jose Raphael, McLeod, Pat N.
PublisherUniversity of North Texas
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatv, 193 leaves, Text
RightsPublic, Haynes, Linda Carol, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

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