Thesis Title: Morality and Perceived Applicability of Character Strengths in Adolescents Involved in Petty Crimes
Student Name: Wajiha Abrar
Supervisor: Afifa Anjum
Degree: BS
Year: 2014-2018
Department: Institute of Applied Psychology
University: Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245
Abstract
The study aimed to investigate the difference of morality and strengths applicability in adolescents involved in petty crimes i.e. juvenile delinquents and adolescents of same age range in community sample. Adolescents taken from community sample were of low socio economic class as the delinquents were all of low socio economic status. It was hypothesized that there would be a difference of morality and character strengths applicability in adolescents involved in petty crimes and those from community sample. Cross-sectional research design was used to conduct this research. A sample of 125 young adults (only men) recruited through purposive sampling technique was collected. Title Moral Foundation Questionnaire (MFQ20; Graham, 2011), Applicability of Character Strengths Rating Scales (ACS-RS; Harzer & Ruch, 2013) and demographic sheet were used. The measures were individually administered to each of the participants. Results independent sample t– test revealed that there was a significant difference between juvenile delinquents and community adolescents in subscale of being ashamed. Both samples also differed on subscales of perceived applicability of character strengths. Findings are discussed in the light of morality and character strengths theory and implication are suggested.
Keywords: Morality, perceived applicability, adolescents, crimes.
