MORAL JUDGMENT BY CRIMINALS AND CONFORMISTS AS A TOOL FOR EXAMINATIONOF SOCIOLOGICAL PREDICTIONS

This study illustrates how predictions from sociological approaches mi ght be operationalized using a psychological measure, moral judgment. A prediction bused on Merton's anemia theory, that offenses elicit gre atest justification when the importance of a socioeconomic goal is hig h and availability of means to achieve that goal is low, was investiga ted. The design war a multifactorial manipulation of the goal and avai lability of means us well us other relevant factors. Results from this experimental procedure were examined on the background of data from E ysenck's personality questionnaire. The findings point to interactive effects of the importance of a goal, of availability of means and seve rity of offenses on justification for those offenses.