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NCCIC Library
The Relation between Law and Morality: Children's Reasoning about Socially Beneficial and Unjust Laws.
By Charles C. Helwig, Urszula Jasiobedzka
Child Development v72 n5 p1382-93 Sep-Oct 2001;
2001
Summary: Investigated 6- 8-, and 10-year-olds' reasoning about laws and legal compliance. Found that children considered several factors in their judgments, including perceived justice of the law, its socially beneficial purpose, and potential for infringement on individual freedoms and rights. Found that children apply moral concepts of harm, rights, and justice to evaluate laws and to inform judgments of compliance.
Index Terms: Children, Cognitive Development, Emotional Development, Laws, Values, Compliance, Evaluation Methods
Publication Type: Journal Articles, Surveys
Language: English
ERIC Number: EJ643700
Availability from EDRS: This item is available from EDRS: http://www.edrs.com/default.cfm
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