Moral Functioning Research Articles

Identification of key narratives to assess students’ perception of social reality

Introduction. The article presents the results of the research investigation on identifying key narratives in the perception of the external social environment by university students on the example of St. Petersburg Peter the Great Polytechnic University (hereinafter referred to as SPbPU). The aim of the article is to identify key narratives (images of the present, past, and future) to assess students’ perception of social reality, to substantiate key needs of students in the field of soft skills development and to summarize the practices in the field of teaching these skills in SPbPU. Materials and Methods. The key methods of obtaining research data include the survey, participant observation of the research team members within the framework of professional activities, analysis of documents on the issues of teaching and assessment of teaching Soft Skills disciplines. The methods of semantic analysis, generalization, comparison, data visualization, and verification were used in order to collect data, process and present them. Results. The authors identified key narratives in the perception of the external social environment by university students, including peculiarities of the perception of enlarged groups in social, humanitarian and technical fields of study. The data on the key needs of young people within the framework of Soft Skills acquisition and the experience of implementing such disciplines on the example of SPbPU were generalized. During the study, a search semantic analysis of existing evaluative acronyms was applied to investigate the existing image of reality perception in the target group, and the DICE acronym was introduced to summarize the desired image of the future in university students. The practical results of the research consist in the possibilities to assess the potential of practices in the disciplines within the framework of «Soft Skills» in SPbPU and modernization of similar practices in other universities. Conclusions. The article concludes about the need to build an effective feedback system with university students, which will allow, based on specialized Soft Skills practices, to respond flexibly to needs in the field of deficit skills and competencies of students and ensure their acquisition. In addition, the importance of identifying the existing narratives in the youth environment in the field of perception of social environment and social time to realize the educational, communicative and moral functions of higher education institutions is shown.

The Relationship among Internet Addiction, Moral Potency, Mindfulness, and Psychological Capital.

This research aimed to contribute to the literature on internet addiction (IA) and moral development among university students. Moral potency (MP) encompasses the interconnected dimensions of moral courage, moral ownership, and moral efficacy. Studies on the relationships between students' problematic behaviors (e.g., IA) and cognitive processes like MP, mindfulness (MI), and psychological capital (PsyCap) are scarce in educational research. Therefore, this study investigated the relationships among IA, MP, MI, and PsyCap in university students. This study included 868 undergraduate students from a state university in Ethiopia, with 526 male students (60.6%) and 342 female students (39.4%). Participants' ages ranged from 21 to 29 years, with a mean age of 22.31 and a standard deviation of 4.03. The findings indicated that IA was negatively correlated with MI, PsyCap, and MP. Both MI and PsyCap showed positive correlations with MP. Importantly, this study revealed that IA had a direct and negative impact on MI, PsyCap, and MP. Further, MI and PsyCap partially mediated and fully mediated the relationship between IA and MP. These findings suggest that cultivating MI and positive PsyCap among university students could be an important strategy to reduce the risks of IA and enhance their moral development. This study contributes to the limited research on the complex relationships between technology use, psychological resources, and moral functioning in emerging adulthood.

Neural correlates of individual differences in moral identity and its positive moral function.

Moral identity is an important moral variable which has positive moral functions, such as contributing to prosocial behaviours, reducing antisocial behaviours, and resisting the risk factors of antisocial behaviours. However, little is known about the neural correlates of moral identity and the neural basis of the effect of moral identity on the risk factors of antisocial behaviours, including moral disengagement. In this study, we explored these issues in 142 college students by estimating the regional homogeneity (ReHo) through resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The whole-brain correlation analyses found that higher internalized moral identity was correlated with higher ReHo in the precuneus. Furthermore, the ReHo in the precuneus was negatively correlated with moral disengagement, suggesting positive moral functions of the neural mechanisms of moral identity. These findings deepen our understanding of individual differences in moral identity and provide inspiration for the education of moral identity and the intervention for moral disengagement from the perspective of the brain.

Why do we need to employ exemplars in moral education? Insights from recent advances in research on artificial intelligence

ABSTRACT In this paper, I examine why moral exemplars are useful and even necessary in moral education despite several critiques. To support my point, I review recent AI research demonstrating that exemplar-based learning is superior to rule-based learning in model performance in training neural networks, such as large language models. I particularly focus on why education aiming at promoting the development of multifaceted moral functioning can be done effectively by using exemplars, which is like exemplar-based learning in AI model training. Furthermore, I discuss the potential limitations and issues related to exemplar-applied moral education with findings from recent AI research raising concerns about model biases and toxic outcomes. I propose ways to address the concerns regarding employing moral exemplars as well. As remedies, I suggest that autonomy-supporting deliberative and reflective learning should be utilized. Furthermore, based on the discussion, I examine how macroscopic socio-cultural aspects influence the effectiveness of exemplar-applied education.

The Ethical Dimensions of Mindfulness in Public Health

AbstractThis commentary on “Mindfulness for global public health: Critical analysis and agenda” seeks to add to the discussion by considering, what are the moral or ethical implications of introducing mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) into public health? An open question should be asked: Do MBIs promote “moral health,” a type of mental well-being based on moral integrity? Currently, there is a lack of comprehensive understanding regarding the moral influences of MBIs on individuals, but more concerning is the complete absence of population or collective-based data. Moreover, the data on the moral influences of MBIs originate from neurotypical, socially advantaged, and homogeneous demographics, so caution is warranted regarding the potential impact on general public’s moral functioning before proceeding. This commentary briefly reviews the existing literature on the relationship between moral functioning and MBIs, then addresses why the unknown effects of moral functioning from mindfulness on a social level are a concern for public health. Following many of Oman’s proposed axes, it then raises questions about what MBIs could do to the moral functioning of certain populations with mental health issues, diverse and disadvantaged populations, and various multi-sector levels throughout society. In some cases, MBIs might need to include ethical adaptations, which add components that explicitly encourage moral development. These adaptations could support protective measures or mitigate moral risk factors. The commentary concludes by suggesting that ethical motivation could be an added axis to Oman’s scheme, as there is an alignment between mindfulness and public health. Nonetheless, it cautions that more research is needed at the population level on the moral influences from MBIs before their widespread implementation in public health.

Longitudinal associations between inhibitory control, gratitude, and positive parenting during early childhood.

Children's inhibitory control, which refers to the capability to recognize social and task demands by suppressing inappropriate behavior, is a key element closely related to both external and internal issues in preschoolers. The protective roles of parenting factors and social and moral functions, such as gratitude, remain unknown in the mechanism of inhibitory control. The present study employed a general cross-lagged panel model to explore the relationships between positive parenting, child gratitude, and inhibitory control. The research design involved repeated measurements based on parents' reports on 373 Chinese preschoolers in Hong Kong (179 males, 182 females; Mage = 4.51, SD = 0.60). The cross-lagged panel model revealed that positive parenting at Time 1 (T1) was significantly associated with preschool children's gratitude but not with inhibitory control at Time 2 (T2). Conversely, child gratitude at T1 was positively associated with inhibitory control at T2. These findings underscore the impact of positive parenting on gratitude and the predictive role of gratitude on inhibitory control. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Pelaksannan Tu Ngawu (Antar Belis) dan Akibatnya dalam Perkawinan Adat pada Masyarakat Adat Roworeke, Kabupaten Ende (Dialektika Antara Idealitas dan Realitas)

Belis is as a form of appreciation, or honor to the woman and her family, belis This also serves as a bond in the marital relationship, belis Having a marriage certification tool is a symbol of a woman's status with economic, social, and moral functions, and symbolizes femininity, belis also holds a very important meaning in traditional marriage. The main issue in this study are: (1) what is the process of determining belis and implemantion between belis in traditional marriages among the Roworeke indigenous community, Ende District (2) What are the legal consequences of between dowries in traditional marriages among the Roworeke indigenous community, Ende District? The research method used in this research is Juridical Empirical research, which means that in analyzing the problems it is done by combining legal materials (which are secondary data) with primary data obtained in the field. The legal sources and materials used are primary, secondary and tertiary legal materials. The results of this study indicate (1) what is the process of determining belis and implemantion between belis in traditional marriages among the Roworeke indigenous community, Ende District (2) The legal consequences that occur when belis is carried out fully, partially, and not at all.

Why moral psychology needs personality psychology.

People vary in how they perceive, think about, and respond to moral issues. Clearly, we cannot fully understand the psychology of morality without accounting for individual differences in moral functioning. But decades of neglect of and explicit skepticism toward such individual differences has resulted in a lack of integration between moral psychology and personality psychology-the study of psychological differences between people. In recent years, these barriers to progress have started to break down. This special issue aims to celebrate and further increase the visibility of the personality psychology of morality. Here, we introduce the articles in this special issue by highlighting some important contributions a personality-based perspective has to offer moral psychology-particularly in comparison to the currently prominent social psychological approach. We show that personality psychology is well-placed to (a) contribute toward a rigorous empirical foundation for moral psychology, (b) tackle the conceptualization and assessment of stable moral tendencies, (c) assess the predictive validity of moral traits in relation to consequential outcomes, (d) uncover the mechanisms underlying individual differences in moral judgments and behavior, and (e) provide insights into moral development. For these reasons, we believe that moral psychology needs personality psychology to reach its full scholarly potential.

The Moral Dimension of Mental Health Treatment.

Patients regularly bring value-laden concerns to treatment, but clinicians are often unsure about what role to play in their patients' moral lives. Addressing problems in moral functioning depends on assessing how individuals are accomplishing basic moral tasks: developing moral commitments, making moral decisions, implementing these decisions, assessing the correspondence between their ideals and behavior, dealing effectively with moral failure, and developing morally admirable character traits, or virtues. Clarity about the moral dimension of clinical work is important for shaping the direction of treatment, achieving clinical aims, and engaging the moral challenges that clinicians face.

Migrant deaths in the name of law

While many studies have investigated the problem of migration deaths, to our knowledge attention has never focused on how political actors appeal to law to legitimize these deaths. In our empirical enquiry, we interrogated how the European Commission legitimizes its role in migrant deaths in the Mediterranean through appeals to law. One compelling function of law in this legitimization process is that it presents a narrative as logical and objective. A second aspect of legitimization through law is related to its moral function. Instead of regretting not being more active in saving migrant lives, the European Commission inversed the moral charge, presenting itself as guarantor of law and order that saves migrants if they respect legality. We argue that political actors do not simply submit passively to laws but that laws can also be a resource for the legitimization of what might seem at first glance immoral – in this case an implicit ‘right’ not to protect.

The Role of Cognitive Architectures in the Modelling of Human Virtue

There has been increasing interest in virtue, both from the perspective of theology, and from human sciences such as psychology. This paper focuses on the possibility of modelling human virtue computationally, in terms of a particular cognitive architecture, Philip Barnard’s Interacting Cognitive Subsystems. It is unusual in being a macro cognitive architecture; it has been formulated with a computational level of precision; and its evolutionary development has been described. Though it is possible that computers could acquire virtue in a distinctive way, the focus here is on modelling human-like virtue. That needs to be grounded in empirical research on human moral functioning, and research is discussed on two main topics: whether or not virtue functions as a cross-situational, characterological trait; and the tendency of virtue to fragment into components such as values and behaviour which are only weakly connected. An important feature of Interacting Cognitive Subsystems is the distinction between two different modes of central cognition, one intuitive-embodied and the other conceptual. The interplay between these two different modes of cognition in the acquisition of virtue is discussed.

Dimensions of personality organisation, mentalisation and evaluation of life and romantic relationship satisfaction

Introduction and objective: The Kernberg’s concept on the levels of personality organisation enables us to understand, on the one hand, the pathomechanism of personality disorders necessary for case conceptualisation in psychotherapy and, on the other hand, to predict individuals’ everyday functioning in interpersonal relationships and the experienced life satisfaction. In this study, we inquire whether dimensions of pathological personality structure are associated with negative evaluations of life satisfaction and interpersonal relationships. Additionally, we explored whether these relationships are modified by impaired mentalisation (as a mediator) and clinical group membership (as a moderator). Materials and methods: The study involved 88 participants (71 women) from both clinical (n = 45) and non-clinical groups, aged between 20 to 69 years (mean, M = 31.39; standard deviation, SD = 11.38). The participants completed the Kernberg’s Inventory of Personality Organization (IPO), the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS), the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), and the Mentalization Questionnaire (MZQ). Results: The results indicate that higher intensity of all dimensions of personality pathology (identity, defence mechanisms, aggression, reality testing, and moral functioning) is significantly associated with lower life satisfaction (rho = from −0.49 to −0.32) and greater difficulties in mentalisation (rho = 0.72 to 0.56). Increased intensity of defence mechanisms is also related to lower romantic relationship satisfaction (rho = −0.23). Moderated mediation analyses with 5000 bootstrap samples (where life satisfaction is an dependent variable, dimensions of personality organisation are independent variables, mentalisation disturbance is a mediator, and clinical group membership moderates all relationships) showed that disrupted mentalisation plays a mediating role in explaining life satisfaction and that clinical vs. non-clinical group membership may not moderate these relationships. Conclusion: The results help specify the relationships between the characteristics of Kernberg’s personality structure dimensions and the evaluation of everyday life satisfaction, suggesting an important role of mentalisation processes as transdiagnostic factors worth addressing in life satisfaction appraisal.

SPIRITUAL AND MORAL DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENT YOUTH IN TODAY’S REALITIES

The article analyses scientific studies devoted to the problem of spiritual and moral development of student youth, provides their social and psychological characteristics, highlights the process of forming their moral values in today’s realities through the prism of Ukraine’s European integration aspirations, and proves the need for their comprehensive research due to the contradictions found. The purpose of the article is to identify existing contradictions and define the main theoretical problems of the spiritual and moral development of modern student youth, taking into account their social and psychological characteristics, to carry out a theoretical analysis of the concepts of “spirituality”, “value”, “value orientations”, “moral values”, “morality”, to investigate their main functions, and to provide the author’s definition of the process of spiritual and moral development of current student youth. The concept of “value” is analysed through the prism of philosophical approaches, studied from the psychology, sociology, and pedagogy viewpoints. The main functions of morality have been defined, and the concept of “moral values” is thoroughly scrutinized, which is also considered from the sociology, psychology, and pedagogy standpoints. The author’s definition of the processes of students’ spiritual and moral development and the formation of their moral values has been given. The process of moral values formation is considered a procedure of normalization based on the internalization of primary values and goals by young people. The spiritual and moral development of student youth is characterized as the course of implementing the consistent and purposeful improvement of the value-meaning sphere of their personality during socialization, the formation of ability to evaluate and consciously build universal moral ideals and values based on morality, as well as the proper attitude towards oneself and other people, to the state, and to the world as a whole. It has been emphasized that the formation of students’ moral values is a systematic process of a person’s development and self-development. At the same time, moral upbringing is an integral part of education, which ensures a relatively meaningful and purposeful upbringing of a person following the specifics of the goals, groups and organizations in which it is carried out. It has been found out that the main focus of the teacher’s activity should be the formation of moral values, and the main goal has to be the development of the child’s personality, capable of conscious and responsible choices of behaviour and actions in various life situations, without violating universal and generally significant values. The main theoretical issues for the formation of moral values in student youth have been identified. They include the problem of mutual coordination of upbringing influences of teachers and parents on student youth during their socialization and individualization; filling the methods of formation of educational activity with the appropriate moral content; the functioning of the relationship and mutual influence of personal qualities of student youth, which are in the stage of their formation; and creation of an effective model for the shaping of moral values in student youth taking into account the sequence of development of various personality qualities. It has been argued that the spiritual and moral development of student youth is not a common goal that can be achieved in a certain period with the assistance of specific means. The result of this process should be the formed morality of the individual, which can be defined as the highest goal that enables the existence of all other goals and is at the basis of human activity itself. It has been concluded that the formed morality of student youth can be considered not as a goal, but as an ideal – a regulatory principle and scale of assessment of their behaviour.

Examining the network structure among moral functioning components with network analysis

I explored the association between components constituting the basis for moral and optimal human functioning, i.e., moral reasoning, moral identity, empathy, and purpose, via network analysis. I employed factor scores instead of composite scores that most previous studies used for better accuracy in score estimation in this study. Then, I estimated the network structure among collected variables and centrality indicators. For additional information, the structure and indicators were compared between two groups, participants who engaged in civic activities highly versus lowly. The results demonstrated significant intra- and inter-scale associations in the network. The network structure was invariant across the two groups. Despite the network invariance, I found that the global connectivity between and centrality indicators of examined factors were higher among the high civic engagement group in general. I discussed the implications of the findings in research on moral functioning based on moral psychology and virtue ethics.

Do contemplative practices make us more moral?

Contemplative practices are a staple of modern life and have historically been intertwined with morality. However, do these practices in fact improve our morality? The answer remains unclear because the science of contemplative practices has focused on unidimensional aspects of morality, which do not align with the type of interdependent moral functioning these practices aspire to cultivate. Here, we appeal to a multifactor construct, which allows the assessment of outcomes from a contemplative intervention across multiple dimensions of moral cognition and behavior. This offers an open-minded and empirically rigorous investigation into the impact of contemplative practices on moral actions. Using this framework, we gain insight into the effect of mindfulness meditation on morality, which we show does indeed have positive influences, but also some negative influences, distributed across our moral functioning.

Morality and feeling powerful: Nietzsche’s power-based sentimental pragmatism

ABSTRACT In recent work, Bernard Reginster argues for an interpretation of the relationship between morality and the affects in Nietzsche which he calls ‘sentimental pragmatism’. According to this view, the values, value judgments, and moral practices agents develop and adopt function to serve specific affective needs. Reginster deploys this interpretation to argue for a functional interpretation of Nietzsche’s On the Genealogy of Morality, according to which all three essays of the Genealogy comprise psychological studies designed to uncover Christian morality’s function to serve the affect of ressentiment. In this paper, I first develop Reginster’s sentimental pragmatism by specifying a need to feel powerful as the one affective need which all moral developments aim to serve on Nietzsche’s view. Then, I argue that while Reginster’s functional interpretation of the Genealogy makes sense of key moral phenomena discussed in the first and third essays, it works less well to explain key developments in the second essay. I then suggest that my power-based sentimental pragmatism does better in this regard, allowing us to identify one basic function of morality that Nietzsche intends to uncover in all three essays of the Genealogy, one basic affective need it aims to serve: the need to feel powerful.

Akhlak Sebagai Perisai Di Tengah Perubahan Gaya Hidup Modern

This study aims to determine the function of morality as a light and guide of human life in an era that tends to change morals is very visible. Morals or manners have an important role in building a nation. The morals in question are akhlakul karimah or commendable morals. Someone who has good morals, then all his actions and behavior are good. In this way, a harmonious and peaceful life will be realized. One of the hadiths of the Prophet Muhammad, Saw, explained "Indeed in the Messenger of Allah there are good role models," To form and build a great nation, a nation that is safe, peaceful, instilling morals in each person is the most important part that is inseparable from the physical development program . The reality cannot be denied that in everyday life there are still disagreements which result in disputes, quarrels or hostilities due to clashes of opinions and interests between people. Mutual respect and love for each other almost disappear when human interests clash. Knowledge that is actually attached to the person contributes to humans to speak politely and humanely. However, it turns out that people who have knowledge show arguments against each other in formal and informal discussion forums, as if they are unable to provide education to the community with good morals.

Smuggled Doughnuts and Forbidden Fried Chicken: Addressing Tensions around Family and Food Restrictions in Hospitals.

It is a common practice for family members to bring food to hospitalized loved ones. However, in some cases, this food contravenes a patient's dietary plan. Such situations can create significant tension and distrust between health care professionals and families and may lead the former to doubt a family's willingness or ability to support patient recovery. This case-study essay offers an ethical analysis of these situations. We draw on Hilde Lindemann's work to argue that providing food to family members is an important way that families discharge their moral functions of caring for their members and holding them in their identities. When family members are hospitalized, other means of performing these functions are limited. Acknowledging the ethical importance of feeding family members alongside the medical need for dietary restrictions, we offer strategies for creative problem-solving that center diet as a subject for shared decision-making and regular, ongoing communication among health care professionals, patients, and families.

Moral sensitivity, moral distress and moral functioning

For this open issue of the Etikk i Praksis: Nordic Journal of Applied Ethics, we put together a broad mix of different articles tackling current important issues in the field.

An Institutional Duty to Vote: Applying Role Morality in Representative Democracy

Is voting a duty of democratic citizenship? This article advances a new argument for the existence of a duty to vote. It argues that every normative account of electoral representation requires universal turnout to function in line with its own internal normative logic. This generates a special obligation for citizens to vote in electoral representative contexts as a function of the role morality of democratic citizenship. Because voting uniquely authorizes office holding in representative democracies, and because universal turnout contributes powerfully to representation being fair, to be a good citizen of such democracies requires one to vote. Whereas previous arguments for a duty to vote have invoked basic moral principles like fairness or a Samaritan duty of rescue, this account is based on citizens occupying a vital functional role within electoral representative institutions. This institutional duty solves the “specificity problem” of justifying a duty to vote better than competing accounts and also immunizes the duty to objections that there is no duty to vote when there are only bad choices and that there is a no duty to vote but rather duty to vote well. By emphasizing the tight connection between institutions and individual conduct, the role morality approach used here supplies a less abstract and more realistic framework than much previous research on the ethics of democratic citizenship and brings the debate closer to constitutive features of democratic politics.