Metacognitive aspects of moral reasoning and behavior.

This study explored the notion that the development of moral reasoning and moral behavior may be linked to metacognition. The awareness of moral processes involved in moral reasoning and behavior was examined in 139 adolescents in three age groups. A number of significant moral metacognition-reasoning-behavior correlations were found. Intercorrelations for all dependent measures increased by age. A factor analysis revealed several components of moral metacognition (person, task, and strategy variables), and these were significantly related to increases in moral reasoning and behavior scores. More important, a contingency analysis supported the notion that specific types of metamoral knowledge (e.g., understanding the purpose, scope, and requirements of moral action) are related to high and low moral reasoning and behavior.