Investigating the relationship between moral reasoning and moral behavior in adolescents mediated by social cognition theory

The purpose of the present study was to investigate relationship between moral reasoning and moral behavior in adolescents mediated by social cognition theory.Accordingly,350 participants (175 females and 175 males) were selected by multistage cluster sampling among the first grade high school students in the city of Khorramabad.They completed Moral Reasoning and Moral Behavior Questionnaires as well as Reading Mind in the Eyes Test. The data were analyzed using Pearson and Partial correlation and regression analysis. The results showed thatthe relationship between moral reasoning and moral behavior in students wasn’t significant. But with entering the social cognition variable into the analysis, this relationship was significant. Therefore,it is necessary to examine the moral behavior in adolescents, search other factors, especially the non-cognitive factors. Also, the need for promoting social cognition in adolescents to increase their understanding of ethical behavior must be properly appreciated.