Droit et Société N° 19, 1991
The relationship between légal reasoning and
behavioral context
Ellen S. COHN and Susan 0. WHITE*
SUMMARY
RÉSUMÉ
Much of the literature on légal socialization (Adelson fo O'Neil, 1966 ; Borucka-Arctowa &; Skapska, 1989; Hogan, 1976; Jakubowska, 1984, 1986; Kourilsky, 1986, 1988; Levine k Tapp, 1977 ; Sajo, 1986 ; Tapp & Kohlberg, 1977 ; Tapp & Levine, 1974 ; Torney, 1971) has focused on reasoning or attitudes about légal concepts, but has
'Université de New Hampshire (USA). Départements de Psychologie et de Science Politique.
not explored empirically how thèse mental activ- ities are related to behaviors. Their relationship to contexts for action is often implicit or simply assumed, or at best discussed hypothetically. The présent paper analyzes this relationship, focusing first on several reasons why the relationship is problematic and why its clarification is important to our understanding of légal socialization. We then examine some of the complexities that char-
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