Personal Factors Of Moral Disengagement Mechanisms In Adolescence

Abstract

Diversity of moral standards in modern Russia creates a various opportunities for self-identification in adolescence and can lead to deviant behavior in certain conditions. The increasing quantity and variety of deviant behaviour among Russian adolescents needs psychological interpretation for future prophylactic and intervention programs. Modern social situation of development is characterized be significant social multiplicity of social norms and values with potential high attractiveness of deviant behavior for adolescents. Moral disengagement mechanisms can be used for deviant behaviour justification and self-esteem support. Our goal was focused on the personal factors role in moral disengagement mechanisms application and moral judgments preferences in adolescence. We hypothesized that clusters of adolescents personality characteristics and peer relations define moral disengagement mechanisms use and moral development level. Our method included several questionnaires: moral disengagement mechanisms inquirer, moral judgments questionnaire, autonomy and basic assumption questionnaires, peer relations technique. The sample included 123 subjects-adolescents from 14 to 16. The results showed that moral disengagement mechanisms application is connected with personal characteristics that define understanding of social relations. The moral disengagement mechanisms preferences and widespread use correlates with personal characteristics. Active moral disengagement mechanisms application combines with perception of yourself or the world as unfriendly and non-controlled.