our ideas of right and wrong develop through a series of levels and stages from childhood t adulthood
link to crime
criminals are stuck at less mature levels of moral development and are likely to only think of reward and punishment and not how their behaviour affects others
strengths
some studies support the idea that criminals are at a less developed stage of moral.
thornton and reid- found the theory to be truer fro planned crimes rather than impulsive crimes
limitations
focuses on moral thinking rather than moral behaviour
