The aim of this study was to analyze the cognitive processes (prosocial moral reasoning, perspective taking) and emotional processes (empathic concern, emotional instability, anger state-trait) which interact in predicting aggressive behaviour and prosocial behaviour of adolescents who have committed a crime and those who haven't, for the purpose to establish the predictor variables in both groups. Participants were 440 adolescents, 220 were young offenders residing in four Youth Detention Centers of Valencia, in which they were carrying out court sentences (67.3% men and 32.7% women). The other 220 were enrolled in public and private schools within the metropolitan area of Valencia (65.9% men and 34.1% women). The two subsamples were equated in age (15-18 years) and sex, controlling the representation of social classes. Prosocial moral reasoning, empathy, emotional instability and state-trait anger, prosocial behaviour and physical and verbal aggression were assessed. Hierarchical regression analyses carried out show the differential weight of positive emotions (empathic concern) and negative ones (emotional instability and anger) in relation to prosocial moral reasoning in predicting adolescents, especially offenders. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for prevention and reeducation oriented to social reinsertion of young offenders.
