Abstract

MENIN, Maria Suzana De Stefano. Social representations of justice for delinquent adolescents: new possibilities of research. Psicol. Reflex. Crit. [online]. 2000, vol.13, n.1, pp. 59-71. ISSN 0102-7972.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-79722000000100008.

The objective of this paper was to present some current approaches of research on justice concepts, especially in France where concepts and methodologies related to social representations are used. Participants of the study were 20 adolescents charged with different transgressions who were called to testify at the District Attorney Office. The adolescents were asked to do free association with justice, law, and inequity, and questioned regarding considerations about law, definitions and examples of injustice, and accusations about things they thought were unfair. The data allowed the derivation of categories and led to suggestions for further research which should include variables such as social class, level of education, and the role of the media, and how they affect the representation of justice.

Keywords : Justice; adolescents; social representation; moral development.