{
  "id": 6350807,
  "title": "Knowing right from wrong is not enough: Trauma linked to fragmented adolescent conscience",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/knowing-right-from-wrong-is-not-enough-trauma-linked-to-fragmented",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-09T00:00:07.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-wrong-trauma-linked-fragmented-adolescent.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Understanding the difference between right and wrong is essential, yet not the sole factor in adolescent behavior. Research from the University of Amsterdam suggests that conscience is not a fixed trait but a dynamic system requiring several psychological abilities to function together. Dr. Julia Tiemersma, a psychologist, is developing a tool to help professionals assess this complex system. The Clinical Assessment of Conscience (CAC) evaluates components such as empathy, self-conscious emotions, and moral reasoning. It provides a detailed picture of how these elements work together rather than just a simple score. Greater trauma severity in clinically referred adolescents was linked to weaker integration between these conscience components. Emotional neglect had the strongest association, followed by emotional and sexual abuse. This fragmentation doesn't indicate the absence of empathy, guilt, or moral understanding, but rather an ineffective integration of these abilities. The research emphasizes the need for treatment that focuses on integrating these components rather than merely addressing individual deficits. By understanding the specific areas where a young person's conscience is struggling, interventions can be more precisely tailored, potentially reducing the risk of delinquent behavior.",
  "summary": "What does it mean when a young person seems to know the difference between right and wrong but still repeatedly crosses the line? For professionals working with adolescents who display problematic or transgressive behavior, such contradictions can be difficult to understand and assess. New research from the University of Amsterdam suggests that one reason may be that conscience is not a single,…",
  "key_points": [
    "Conscience is dynamic, not fixed, in adolescents.",
    "CAC tool assesses empathy, self-conscious emotions, moral reasoning.",
    "Trauma weakens integration of conscience components."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Trauma in adolescents disrupts the integration of conscience components, such as empathy and moral reasoning, indicating a need for targeted interventions that address these specific deficits.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}