Features of Relationship between Moral Judgments and Mental Model (on the Example of Adults with ASD)

Nemzer E.A.; Borodina L.G.

doi:10.17759/psylaw.2022120114

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Psychology and Law

Publisher: Moscow State University of Psychology and Education

ISSN (online): 2222-5196

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published since 2011

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Psychology and Law
2022. Vol. 12, no. 1, 180–195
doi:10.17759/psylaw.2022120114
ISSN: 2222-5196 (online)

Features of Relationship between Moral Judgments and Mental Model (on the Example of Adults with ASD) ²⁶

Nemzer E.A.
Student, Moscow State University of Psychology & Education, Moscow, Russia
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1337-4186
e-mail: zernemzer@gmail.com

Borodina L.G.
PhD in Medicine, Associate Professor, Chair of Clinical and Forensic Psychology, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russia
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3058-1569
e-mail: bor111a@yandex.ru

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Online translation in english

The deficit of theory of mind (ToM) is considered by a number of authors as one of the risk factors for involvement in criminal activity for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (for example because of difficulties in understanding other people’s intentions). The relationship between the deficit of ToM and moral judgments is discussed. The methods of test diagnostics (“Moral dilemmas”, A-ToM) and the method of content analysis of answers to open questions on moral dilemmas were used. It is shown that individuals with ASD are less likely to give utilitarian answers to impersonal dilemmas, but regardless of the intact of ToM, there is a tendency to reduce the degree of utilitarianism from impersonal to personal dilemmas. It is also shown that individuals with ASD do not rely on the intentions of actors when reasoning about moral dilemmas, but not only individuals with ASD rely on conse-quences in such reasoning.

Keywords: theory of mind, autism spectrum disorders, moral judgment, moral dilemma

Column: Interdisciplinary Studies

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/psylaw.2022120114

Received: 15.08.2021

Accepted: 18.02.2022

For Reference

Nemzer E.A., Borodina L.G. Features of Relationship between Moral Judgments and Mental Model (on the Example of Adults with ASD) [Elektronnyi resurs]. Psikhologiia i pravo = Psychology and Law, 2022. Vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 180–195. doi:10.17759/psylaw.2022120114. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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