Moral Convictions Research Articles

Attitude moralization in the context of collective action: How participation in collective action may foster moralization over time.

Although much is known about why people engage in collective action participation (e.g., politicized identity, group-based anger), little is known about the psychological consequences of such participation. For example, can participation in collective action facilitate attitude moralization (e.g., moralize their attitudes on the topic)? Based on the idea that collective action contexts often involve a strong social movement fighting against an immoral adversary, we propose that participating in collective action facilitates attitude moralization over time. By integrating the moralization and collective action literatures, we hypothesized that participation in collective action moralizes individuals' attitudes over time because it politicizes their identity, enrages them vis-a-vis the outgroup, and/or empowers them to achieve social change. We tested these hypotheses in a 2-year, five-wave longitudinal study (N = 1,214) in the contentious context of the Chilean student movement. We examined within-person (and between-person) changes over time and consistently found that participation in collective action predicted individual changes in moral conviction over time through politicized identification and group-based anger toward the outgroup. Furthermore, moral conviction predicted participation in collective action over time-an effect consistently explained by politicized identification. These findings are the first to show that (a) participation in collective action moralizes individuals' attitudes because it politicizes their identity and enrages them vis-a-vis the (immoral) outgroup and that (b) moralization in turn helps to better understand sustained movement participation. Theoretical implications for the literature on moralization and collective action are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Victimhood in the writings of veterans of the Rhodesian Security Forces

ABSTRACT This article maps the idea of a “victimhood narrative” onto the writings of veterans of the Rhodesian Security Forces (RSF). It will suggest that RSF veterans faced greater challenges of legitimacy than existed even for those of the South African Border War and Vietnam War. It argues that their method of engaging with the complicated moral circumstances surrounding their conflict was to present themselves as the misunderstood, betrayed and vulnerable survivors of a war that has fallen into obscurity. In doing this they are trying to find a narrative about the war that they find palatable in the face of universal moral condemnation of the white Rhodesian regime. In addition, they are attempting to rebuild a sense of nationhood within their international diaspora.

How food delivery service can be sustainable: some evidence from the Giusta delivery case

PurposeThe study explores the drivers of the intention to continue using sustainable food delivery services, considering the influence of value, satisfaction and the combined effects of utilitarian and hedonic motives. We employ a comprehensive framework that integrates the norm activation model (NAM) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB), with satisfaction, utilitarian motives and hedonic motives. This approach facilitates a deeper understanding of the factors motivating users to remain loyal to the service.Design/methodology/approachThe study examines the data using a quantitative approach based on the partial least squares approach to structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).FindingsThe findings suggest that the intention to continue using sustainable food delivery services, such as the Giusta app, is significantly influenced by user satisfaction and attitudes. Attitudes not only influence the intention but also user satisfaction and are shaped by utilitarian motivations associated with sustainable food delivery. Beyond personal expectations and perceived benefits, the study reveals that behavior is also driven by altruistic values and moral convictions. Specifically, attitudes and satisfaction are positively affected by personal norms, which are influenced by ascribed responsibility. This ascribed responsibility is, in turn, shaped by awareness of both environmental and social issues.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the current debate on consumers' ethical behavior in food delivery. Only a few studies have integrated the NAM and TPB models in this context. This article highlights the factors useful in predicting people’s choice of food delivery services, showing the key role of personal norms, attitude, satisfaction and utilitarian motives.

Seeking justice on social media: Funas as a localized form of Latin American youth activism

A funa, a public denouncement aimed at raising moral condemnation of a person accused of perpetrating a crime or injustice, has become a major digital activism instrument in Latin America, particularly in Chile. Originated in the human rights movement in the 1990s, funas re-emerged as a new form of online activism that hybridized with a Latin American and historical form of protest to exert informal justice through social media. Drawing on a face-to-face survey of Chilean youth aged 18–29 years, we examine the factors that explain young people’s attitudes and behaviors regarding funas. We find that funas are gendered, with issues like sexual harassment and misconduct being the primary subject of funas. We also show that women hold more positive views about funas and are more likely to engage in online funas. Finally, our findings indicate that individuals who trust the judicial system are less likely to share funas on social media.

Issue Fields and Echo Chambers: Increasing field contestation fueled by moral emotions

We investigate how issue fields with increasing levels of contestation can develop into fields characterized by echo chambers. Studying the introduction of a controversial new approach to addiction services—harm reduction—we explain how proponents’ and opponents’ rhetorical arguments changed over time, transitioning the issue field through different configurations. Our findings reveal how field actors were initially differentiated by moral convictions, and as their expression of moral emotions became more intense, the two groups became increasingly divided and polarized in their views, leading to an issue field characterized by echo chambers. Through our analysis of archival materials and interview data, we explicate this process by identifying three phases of issue field transition: creating a moral emotional divide; intensifying antagonization; and insulating against the other side. We contribute to the literature by presenting a model of change explaining how emotional rhetoric, together with different types of triggering events, can fuel increasing levels of contestation and drive the field toward developing echo chambers. Second, by taking a discursive view of issue fields with particular attention to rhetorical arguments, we provide foundational work for an institutional perspective on echo chamber—that echo chambers result from ongoing social processes where people encapsulate themselves based on a sense of right and wrong, in contrast to the predominant view of becoming trapped in an enclosed space. Third, through our focus on the role of moral emotions and how they can escalate in situations of contestation, we advance knowledge regarding the importance of emotions in field dynamics.

Лицо, совершившее преступление: современные вызовы и ответы

Introduction. The view of criminal law as a means of regulating the behaviour of free willed people, which limits the sphere of criminal repression, has always been corrected by pragmatic considerations related to the need to influence the harmful behaviour of non-personal subjects. In modern society there is a need for it in connection with the assessment of socially significant harm, the source of which are legal entities and artificial intelligence systems, resulting in attempts to include them in the category of subjects of criminal law on the basis of the theoretically questionable concept of distinguishing between subjects of crime and subjects of criminal liability. Methods. The research was carried out by means of various methods, particularly general scientific methods of cognition, such as analysis, synthesis, generalisation, as well as private scientific - formal-legal, comparative-legal, method of interpreting legal norms, etc. Results. It is obvious that the issue of applying measures of influence in relation to non-personal subjects of law should be resolved with regard to and on the basis of philosophical theories of criminal law, the most attractive of which presents criminal law as a means of moral condemnation of acts that destroy the system of values designed to guarantee the stability and sustainability of society, and which does not allow the application of measures of criminal law influence against persons who are not capable of free moral choice. Keeping the current provisions on the possibility of recognising the subject of crime and the subject of criminal liability as exclusively a human being should be considered as a component of the system of maintaining the human aspect of criminal law and protecting the law from its dehumanisation.

Moral responsibility of russian citizens for aggression against Ukraine as a factor of pressure on their political will

The article focuses on the need to actualize the issue of bringing russian citizens to moral responsibility for violation of universal human values and other moral obligations of a person, which is expressed in their support for a large-scale war against Ukraine and the aggressive policy of the russian federation in general. In this vein, the author rethinks the concept of moral responsibility, argues for the inclusion of both individual and collective moral subjects, and highlights the impact of the means of moral responsibility on the formation of consciousness and, especially, the political will of the moral subject. In the discussion with other scholars, the author proposes that the subjects of collective responsibility include those structures, communities, and social groups that act as a collective actor, demonstrate their internal identity and are mutually responsible. The article argues that the russian public, which politically supports the current regime, is objectively a direct subject of the war and, accordingly, bears the full measure of direct political and moral guilt for the actions of its state and their consequences. It is proposed to call the supporters of the war “agents of war”, which will highlight their moral culpability. Therefore, it is important that not only the leadership of the russian federation, but also the entire russian public realise their part of the blame for the russian-Ukrainian war. It is proposed to incriminate moral and political culpability of russian citizens for the military aggression against Ukraine and to carry out information activities in order to make them aware of their personal and solidarity share of guilt and responsibility for this aggression. In order to give the moral condemnation of russian citizens a targeted and universal impact, the author argues for the establishment of a special international moral tribunal to encourage moral actors to fulfill their moral obligations, which will simultaneously contribute to the improvement of the security sphere of humanity. It is not about creating an official administrative structure, but about introducing a single humanistic information space that will counter this aggression. It is believed that it is in the form of a moral and ethical tribunal that the efforts of civilized countries, political, national and religious movements can be effectively united in the general condemnation of the russian aggression, its violation of human norms of goodness and justice, peace and secure existence. The central paradigm of the tribunal should be the phenomenon of safe human existence, human life as a value that excludes aggressive state policy and encroachment on human rights and freedoms. We believe that today, in counteracting russian information and psychological operations, we should focus more on the moral collective guilt and responsibility of all russian citizens who still stand in the position of not resisting evil.

The Effect of Education on the Knowledge Level, Awareness and Attitudes of Physiotherapy Students’ Towards Organ Donation and Transplantation

The current educational curriculum does not provide physiotherapists with adequate knowledge and skills regarding tissue and organ donation and transplantation. This study aims to investigate whether educational interventions on organ donation and transplantation lead to significant changes in physiotherapy students' knowledge, awareness, and attitudes. The study involved 96 students from the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation at a state university, with a mean age of 19.61±1.43 years. Data were gathered through face-to-face interviews and evaluated using a socio-demographic information form, the Organ-Tissue Donation and Transplantation Knowledge Scale, and the Organ Donation Attitude Scale. After administering a pre-test, a 60-minute educational session was conducted, followed by a post-test. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the Organ Donation Knowledge Scale before and after the educational intervention (p=0.0001). Significant differences were also observed in the Organ Donation Attitudes Scale, the Humanity and Moral Conviction sub-dimension, the Fears of Medical Neglect sub-dimension, the Fears of Bodily Mutilation sub-dimension, and the Total Negative Attitudes sub-dimension (p=0.0001). Healthcare professionals play a critical role in informing and guiding people about organ donation for increasing awareness and encouraging positive attitudes. Therefore, providing comprehensive and effective education on organ donation and transplantation to physiotherapists can significantly enhance their ability to improve public knowledge and attitudes towards organ donation.

Moral Intelligence –Theory and in Education

Morality and intelligence influence various aspects of human life and action. They contribute to a certain stabilisation of a young person's functioning in a given society. The development and technological progress that is taking place is conducive to the development of young people, the satisfaction of certain needs, but it cannot guarantee the possibility of shaping basic values such as freedom, justice or responsibility. Currently, material and individualistic values are increasingly promoted. References to moral ideals based on truth, honesty and love, on the other hand, are less frequent. These are important when making future choices or decisions. A particularly important task today, in the face of various threats, addictions and value crises, is to shape the moral intelligence of young people. It involves having strong ethical and moral convictions and acting in accordance with them. The purpose of this article is to introduce the concept of moral intelligence, to provide a definition and a conception of the research issue under consideration on a psychological level. It also shows some conditions of its formation during childhood and adolescence. The considerations undertaken in the article show the importance of moral intelligence in developing appropriate social attitudes, behaviour, acquiring moral principles, teaching responsibility, sensitivity to the suffering of others in adolescents.

True and Moral by Repetition: Unveiling the Impact of Exposure on Positive Stereotypes Perception

Despite their apparent benevolence, positive stereotypes have negative effects on person and group perception. However, little is known about how exposure can intensify these negative consequences. In two pre-registered experiments (total N = 240) we investigated the effect of exposure on believability and moral condemnation of positive stereotypes. In Experiment 1, participants rated the truth value of positive stereotypes, which were either previously encountered or not during an exposure phase. Repeated positive stereotypes were perceived as more true than unrepeated ones, indicating a truth effect. In Experiment 2, we replicated the truth effect and further found that exposure to stereotypes reduced their moral condemnation, indicating a moral-repetition effect. Extending the truth effect and moral-repetition effect research to positive stereotypes, our findings emphasize the need to raise awareness of the impact of exposure on reinforcing the believability and moral condemnation of stereotypical beliefs.

Social Stigma and COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal in France

Context: In 2021, French health authorities strongly promoted vaccination against COVID-19. The authors assumed that refusing this vaccine became a stigma, and they investigated potential public stigma toward unvaccinated people among the French population. Methods: A representative sample of the French adult population (N = 2,015) completed an online questionnaire in September 2021. The authors focused on participants who were already vaccinated against COVID-19 or intended to get vaccinated (N = 1,742). A cluster analysis was used to obtain contrasted attitudinal profiles, and the authors investigated associated factors with logistic regressions. Findings: Regarding attitudes toward unvaccinated people, a majority of respondents supported several pejorative statements, and a significant minority also endorsed social rejection attitudes. The authors found four contrasting attitudinal profiles: moral condemnation only (32% of respondents), full stigma (26%), no stigma (26%), and stigma rejection (16%). Early vaccination, civic motives for it, faith in science, rejection of political extremes, and being aged 65 or older were the main factors associated with stigmatizing attitudes toward unvaccinated people. Conclusions: The authors found some evidence of stigmatization toward unvaccinated people, but further research is needed, especially to investigate perceived stigmatization among them. The authors discuss their results with reference to the concept of “folk devils” and from a public health perspective.

THE USE OF EMOTIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEANS IN THE PATRIOTIC EDUCATION OF YOUTH

The changes that have occurred in all spheres of life of Ukrainian society, and the new substantive and value reorientation of citizens, urgently require special attention to the patriotic education of the younger generation. The aim of the study is to analyze the features and methods of using emotional and psychological means in the patriotic education of modern youth. The research methodology is based on the dialectical relationship of the following methods: the method of analysis of the existing definitions of “patriotism” and “belief”, system-structural approach – to understand the beliefs as a determining factor in the patriotic education of modern youth, synergetic approach – in the process of analyzing the role of emotional and psychological influence in the system of patriotic education through the use of verbal influence, empirical method – a written survey of students.Scientific novelty lies in the analysis of the influence of emotional and psychological means as a major factor in the formation of patriotism. From the standpoint of the activity approach, the use of the emotional function of language in the education of patriotic feelings has been rethought.The study proved that emotionally-psychological means of influencing human consciousness play a leading role in forming moral and ethical beliefs, particularly patriotism. According to the author, the best way to fulfill this mission is through artistic literature and means of art. An idea embodied in artistic images has a tremendous educational impact, convinces, instills certain feelings, and motivates action. The study established that artistic literature plays an extremely important role in socio-political life and emphasized that not only positive images of literary heroes have educational value but also negative phenomena that require moral condemnation and encourage one to take a certain life position.The idea embodied in artistic images has a huge educational impact, convinces, inspires certain feelings and motivates to action. The problem of patriotic education is currently quite relevant and requires special attention of researchers in the field of philosophy, psychology, pedagogy, emotional linguistics and, in particular, specialists in the field of philosophy of education.

Unveiling the Elephant in the Room: How do Psychologists Perceive Individuals Convicted of Sexual Offenses?

The societal reintegration of individuals with criminal records, particularly involving sexual offenses, faces challenges due to moral condemnation. Professionals' perspectives are pivotal in facilitating this reintegration process. This study surveyed 314 psychologists via a web-based experiment to assess their judgments regarding allegations of sexual violence and perpetrator's denial. Psychologists with experience in working with individuals convicted of sexual offenses showed a decreased propensity to grant prison benefits upon the progressive disclosure of the sexual offense, which diminished further in the presence of denial. For psychologists lacking such professional experience, judgment worsened solely with the discovery of the sexual offense, but not with denial. Psychologists not experienced in working with individuals with sexual convictions were generally found to have higher levels of malignant satisfaction than their experienced counterparts. Additionally, experienced psychologists exhibited a greater willingness to manage forensic cases and endorsed the effectiveness of treatment, while non-experts displayed less confidence in treatment efficacy, hesitancy in working with such individuals, and a propensity to delegate the case. Availability to handle the case diminished as more information surfaced for both groups. These findings highlight differences in professionals' attitudes based on experience and suggest implications for understanding punitive attitudes towards individuals with sexual convictions.

On the need to form moral convictions

On the need to form moral convictions

The Influence of Religious and Ethical Values on Mitigating Money Politics Among Women in Aceh

Money politics continues to pose a significant challenge in Aceh, notably among populations less acquainted with political processes and facing urgent economic needs. This study aims to explore the influence of religious and ethical values in countering money politics among Acehnese women. Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach, this research gathers primary data through interviews and supplements it with secondary data from existing literature. The findings reveal that although financial and material incentives are compelling, they do not invariably secure women's votes. Adherence to religious teachings, ethical considerations, and personal life philosophies significantly influence their decision-making processes. Although women in Aceh are highly susceptible to money politics, they are more likely to decline such offers compared to men, primarily due to their strong religious and moral convictions. To combat money politics effectively, strategies should emphasize political education and economic empowerment, reinforced by robust religious and ethical instruction, aiming to cultivate a more equitable and healthier democratic environment in Aceh.

The Economic Consequences of the Reflexivisation of the Concept of Intellectual Property – A Theoretical Approach

Abstract Intellectual property is, from the perspective of economic theory, quite a stand-out. It retains the meritocratic particularities of material property – and, as such, advocating for its validity seems justified to many on the grounds that it helps the economic agent appropriate the benefits of his (in this case, intellectual) labour, while also being, in and of itself, immune to the scarcity which is inherent to “standard”, material property and, therefore, to the so-called “natural laws” governing most laissez-faire moral convictions, seeming to be a rather positive construction instead. Such a peculiar set of attributes is bound to make this concept sensitive to both intellectual differences among its “scientific undertakers” and applicative disturbances. If the praxeological approach of some Austrian School economists, like Stephan Kinsella, renders intellectual property a monopolistic obstacle in the way of proper free market development, other advocates of laissez-faire economics, such as Ayn Rand, fully embrace the notion and even consider it the only valid form of private property in existence (material property being nothing more than one of its sub-categories). This paper features an exclusively theoretical, non-empirical methodological approach, its aim being to analyse the way in which three key psychoanalytical issues of “reflexivisation”, present (also) in the field of economics, affect the concept of intellectual property. These issues are as follows: 1. How the economic agents who directly relate their (intellectual) activity to this concept risk altering some / all of the significance of its interpretative functions; 2. How the “grey area” specific to most “human rights” prevents the proper use of intellectual property rights and fuels the rhetoric used by its opponents; and 3. How some of the theoretical approaches advocating for / being against this concept are unknowingly driven by what psychoanalysis refers to as either neurosis (in the case of its advocates) or psychosis (mostly in the case of its opponents). The aimed result of this research is to provide a proper economic interpretation of the way in which the theoretical conceptual evolution of intellectual property may be affected by its very own “reflexivisation”.

Exploring the Interplay Between Religious Music, Emotions, and Ethics in Cultures Worldwide

There is no doubt that music significantly impacts people in their daily lives, emotionally and spiritually. This study explores the impact of religious music on people’s well-being, emotions, and ethical values. The paper provides evidence supporting the positive effects of religious music on mental well-being, reducing psychological distress, and enhancing life satisfaction. The literature review showed that within musical and religious activities, individuals have positive associations between certain aspects of musical and religious experiences and specific domains of happiness, such as sociability, satisfaction with life, and well-being that were not seen in correlation with happiness to membership of religion. It also analyzes the role of music in reinforcing morals and ethical standards within religious worship by influencing pro-social behavior and ethical decision-making. Listeners are attracted to the immersive world of religious music in reaction to the songs' symbolic suggestions, which forces them to reflect on moral quandaries and solidify their ethical views. Religious music serves as a tool to encourage a more robust emotional engagement, resulting in a more loyal following for religious groups. Case studies on Bapedi music and Gregorian chants are also reviewed and further support how religious music strengthens spiritual connections, fosters shared values, and contributes to cultural identity within religious communities. In conclusion, religious music profoundly influences an individual’s quality of life, emotions, and moral convictions and, therefore, has an enduring effect on shaping a religious experience for people.

Hypocrites! Social Media Reactions and Stakeholder Backlash to Conflicting CSR Information

AbstractAt a time when firms signal their commitment to CSR through online communication, news sources may convey conflicting information, causing stakeholders to perceive firm hypocrisy. Here, we test the effects of conflicting CSR information that conveys inconsistent outcomes (results-based hypocrisy) and ulterior motives (motive-based hypocrisy) on hypocrisy perceptions expressed in social media posts, which we conceptualize as countersignals that reach a broad audience of stakeholders. Across six studies, we find that (1) conflicting CSR information from internal (firm) and external (news) sources elicits hypocrisy perceptions regardless of whether the CSR information reflects inconsistencies in results or motives, (2) individuals respond to conflicting CSR information with countersignals accusing firms of hypocrisy expressed in social media posts, (3) hypocrisy perceptions are linked to other damaging stakeholder consequences, including behavior (divestment, boycotting, lower employment interest), affect (moral outrage), and cognition (moral condemnation), and (4) firms with higher credibility are more likely to experience adverse effects of conflicting CSR information. These findings advance theory regarding the effects of conflicting CSR information as it relates to the role of credibility and different forms of hypocrisy. Importantly, damaging social media posts and stakeholder backlash can arise from hypocrisy perceptions associated with inconsistent CSR results as well as inconsistent motives, and strong firm credibility only makes a firm more vulnerable to this backlash.

Moral commitment to gender equality increases (mis)perceptions of gender bias in hiring

AbstractExploring what modulates people's trust in evidence of hiring discrimination is crucial to the deployment of corrective policies. Here, we explore one powerful source of variation in such judgments: moral commitment to gender equality (MCGE), that is, perceptions of the issue as a moral imperative and as identity‐defining. Across seven experiments (N = 3579), we examined folk evaluations of scientific reports of hiring discrimination in academia. Participants who were more morally committed to gender equality were more likely to trust rigorous, experimental evidence of gender discrimination against women. This association between moral commitment and research evaluations was not reducible to prior beliefs, and largely explained a sex difference in people's evaluations on the issue. On a darker note, however, MCGE was associated with increased chances of fallaciously inferring discrimination against women from contradictory evidence. Overall, our results suggest that moral convictions amplify people's myside bias, bringing about both benefits and costs in the public consumption of science.

Internalism from the ethnographic stance: from self-indulgence to self-expression and corroborative sense-making

Abstract By integrating Bernard Williams’ internalism about reasons with his later thought, this article casts fresh light on internalism and reveals what wider concerns it speaks to. To be consistent with Williams’ later work, I argue, internalism must align with his deference to the phenomenology of moral deliberation and with his critique of ‘moral self-indulgence’. Key to this alignment is the idea that deliberation can express the agent's motivations without referring to them; and that internalism is not a normative claim, but an example of sense-making from ‘the ethnographic stance’. This leaves a worry over whether moral conviction can coexist with an internalist understanding of reasons. Here too, however, Williams’ later thought provides an answer. Differentiating corrosive from corroborative sense-making, it elucidates how internalism, though not normative, can nonetheless affect our confidence in reason statements, thereby informing how we deliberate and how we address those whose motivations differ from our own.