Structure of Moral Personality producing Individual Differences in Moral behavior

Abstract

Considerable part of moral behavior is based on psychological traits which exist in an individual. This study raises possibility of existence of moral personality as a psychological construct of personality which produces individual difference in moral behavior. As it is necessary to consider personality of an individual, that is, their temperament, character and narrative, in order to understand thoroughly the individual`s behaviors, so it is necessary to consider their moral personality in order to understand completely the behaviors of moral self. There are individual differences in types, strengths and maturity of moral behavior. It is because moral traits which produces types of moral behavior exist in an individual`s biological and genetic temperament. In addition, it is because moral adaptation which produces strength of moral behavior exists in an individual`s environmental and experiential character. Moreover, it is because moral reflection which maturates moral behavior exists in reflective and self-defining narrative. Moral personality can be conceptualized as ‘an individual`s complex organization of moral traits, moral adaptation and moral reflection which grants their life a moral orientation and coherence’ and individual difference in moral behavior originates from individual difference in moral personality. This study verifies through a series of basic empirical researches that moral personality can be structuralized in three dimensions which are moral traits, moral adaption and moral reflection. Moral reflection on one`s moral traits and moral adaptation can maturate moral behavior. Moral maturity means moral behavior becoming more familiar, versed and complete by reflecting one`s root and competency of moral behavior.