Moral Identity Development Research Articles

Investigating the influence of the school climate of church-based schools on students’ moral identity development and hope for the future

AbstractHope for the future provides a protective factor against mental health disorders and contributes to students’ academic success and wellbeing. We investigated whether a school’s climate influenced students’ prosocial moral identity and hope for the future to understand better how church-based schools might improve these important outcomes. Data were collected from 1080 students in two church-based schools (672 enrolled in one school and 408 in the other) using two instruments: one to assess students’ perceptions of school climate features unique to church-based schools and another to assess students’ self-reports of their moral identity and hope for the future. The results generated using structural equation modelling suggest direct positive and significant relationships between school climate factors, moral identity and hope for the future. However, there were differences between school climate factors that influenced these outcomes for the two schools, suggesting that the context of the school needs to be considered. The findings also suggest that moral identity is a positive predictor of and mediates the influence of the school climate on hope for the future. This study is significant as it adds to the understanding of how malleable features of school climates unique to church-based schools can be leveraged to promote the development of students’ moral identity and hope for the future.

Autobiographical Memory and Moral Identity Development

Moral identity theory is one of the most popular theories of moral development. A central concept of moral identity theory is moral integration. Moral identity theorists refer to moral integration as the process by which moral values become central to a person's identity, thus developing one's moral identity. The problem is that there is still very little understanding of the psychological processes that constitute the process of moral integration. The aim of this paper is to offer an account of the role of autobiographical memory in moral identity development. Autobiographical memory refers to the ability to recollect events in one's past as part of one's personal history. I motivate the claim that the role of the development of autobiographical memory in moral integration should be conceived in relation to the emergence of psychological abilities that both develop and are exercised on a personal, conscious, and deliberative level.

Moral Identity Development Among Emerging Adults in Media: A Longitudinal Analysis

ABSTRACT This longitudinal study examines changes in the moral identity of 48 emerging-adult U.S. college graduates in media-related fields from their first year after college to three years later as they progressed into early work life. Results from four moral psychology survey instruments reflect significant shifts in moral reasoning, relativistic thinking and idealism, coupled with stability in personality traits and character strengths. A fifth instrument found largely positive assessments of workplace ethical climate. The findings suggest that emerging adulthood is an important time for the development of a robust professional moral self that is characterized by growing maturity in moral judgment that intersects with a foundation of character developed through a variety of influences before, during and after college. Findings have significant implications for young practitioners entering the workplace, media managers working with them, and media pedagogy.

Social Responsibility and Airbnb Hosts: Voices from Northern Cyprus

This study examined relevant linkages between motivational factors to be the owner of P2P accommodation (Airbnb host) and being active in pro-environmental and pro-social actions in life practices using a qualitative research method. Our study contributes to the literature associating the motivations of being an Airbnb host and being active in sustainability issues under the framework of moral values. Furthermore, the study analyzed whether an individual awareness of sustainability practices by Airbnb hosts influences their motivations for social responsibility actions in their hosting practices. The key themes followed were ‘Community Engagement and Pro-Social Practices’, ‘Environmental Consciousness and Pro-environmental Practices’, ‘Family Values on Moral Identity and Legal Compliance’, and ‘Restoration and Cultural Heritage’. Findings revealed that hosts stress the importance of the level of environmental consciousness that is gained from education in fostering social responsibility. Respondents believed that teaching cultural heritage, environmental awareness, and ethical values, especially to children, is crucial to building a responsible society. Additionally, participants expressed a sense of social responsibility through the restoration of idle and old houses, contributing to the preservation of cultural heritage and historical structures. As a context of the moral identity issue of respondent hosts, the influence of family values on the development of moral identity was highlighted. The findings of the study showed that hosts work in a team to implement necessary projects for the benefit of society. The study ends with a discussion of the findings and relevant suggestions for the industry.

Character Education : Developing Moral Identity through Narrativity and Reflection

In the debate on character education, broadly speaking, it is necessary to distinguish two sets of thoughts: the Aristotelian tradition and the Kantian tradition. These two perspectives have great merits but also have their limitations. Educational approaches referring to these perspectives are often based on a very fragile relationship: in the first case, between habit and behaviour, and the second case, between cognition and behaviour. According to Blasi, moral action does not depend only on reasoning or on virtuous habits, but it depends on the organization of the self and on a person’s identity. This paper argues that the integration of the perspective of identity into the theory of character education can point to further development of both theory and educational practices. To address this issue, the author explores the significant role of narrativity in the development of moral identity, drawing on the philosophical perspectives of Alasdair MacIntyre and Paul Ricoeur. The central thesis is that developing a sense of moral identity and moral character is deeply intertwined with the ability to reflect on one’s own life narrative. From this perspective, the author argues that in order to “self­‑regulate one’s life” in the MacIntyrean sense and to “re‑configure the emplotment of one’s life story” as suggested by Ricoeur, individuals must engage in a continuous process of reflection, including a critical examination of their moral values and life experiences. The implications of this narrative and reflexive approach for educational practices are discussed, with a focus on how educators can facilitate identity formation and moral development.

Does perceived parental emotional warmth contribute to adults’ higher compassion? The mediating role of moral identity

ABSTRACT Previous studies suggested that parenting is critically important in the development of both moral identity and compassion, but more research is needed concerning the stability of these effects and whether they carry over into adulthood. The present study addressed this issue by examining the link between a specific dimension of perceived parental style and compassion and the mediating role of moral identity in this relationship. The research sample comprised 208 adults aged 18 to 60 (M = 25.44, SD = 7.09, 82.2% females). The participants completed self-report scales measuring perceived parental emotional warmth, compassion, and moral identity (i.e. moral self and moral integrity). Correlation analysis suggested that compassion was positively associated with all the measured variables. Mediation analysis results suggested that both facets of moral identity mediated the link between perceived parental emotional warmth and compassion. We discuss these results considering their importance for cultivating moral identity and compassion and the important role of parents in this regard.

MORAL AND GENDER IDENTITY IN THE STORY OF THE BUTTERFLY IN THE MOSQUE

Researchers studied this study using Norman Faiclough's theory of critical discourse analysis. Through this theory, the researcher can carry out critical reflections to dismantle the interests of the analyzer. This study describes how moral identity and gender identity are in short stories on republika online media. The approach used is qualitative to understand phenomena about what the subject of the study experiences for example behavior, perception, motivation, action. The data collection technique is carried out by downloading short stories through the Republika e-paper, then describing, analyzing, and interpreting based on critical discourse analysis techniques. The findings of this study are: there are issues of moral and gender identity that are represented by examining the linguistic level and practice of discourse. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the study of moral and gender identity can dismantle ideologies and aspects hidden in short story texts by looking at linguistic elements through modalities and metaphors; in the practical dimension of discourse shows that short stories contain elements of moral identity and gender identity in line with the vision and mission of the Republika online media that uphold human and cultural values; Factors that influence the development of moral identity and gender include internal factors, namely factors that exist within the character himself, and external factors, namely factors that exist outside the character (environment, lifestyle, friendships).

MORAL AND GENDER IDENTITY IN THE STORY OF THE BUTTERFLY IN THE MOSQUE

Researchers studied this study using Norman Faiclough's theory of critical discourse analysis. Through this theory, the researcher can carry out critical reflections to dismantle the interests of the analyzer. This study describes how moral identity and gender identity are in short stories on republika online media. The approach used is qualitative to understand phenomena about what the subject of the study experiences for example behavior, perception, motivation, action. The data collection technique is carried out by downloading short stories through the Republika e-paper, then describing, analyzing, and interpreting based on critical discourse analysis techniques. The findings of this study are: there are issues of moral and gender identity that are represented by examining the linguistic level and practice of discourse. Based on the findings, it can be concluded that the study of moral and gender identity can dismantle ideologies and aspects hidden in short story texts by looking at linguistic elements through modalities and metaphors; in the practical dimension of discourse shows that short stories contain elements of moral identity and gender identity in line with the vision and mission of the Republika online media that uphold human and cultural values; Factors that influence the development of moral identity and gender include internal factors, namely factors that exist within the character himself, and external factors, namely factors that exist outside the character (environment, lifestyle, friendships).

Links Between Adolescents' Moral Mindsets and Narratives of their Inconsistent and Consistent Moral Value Experiences.

Past work on moral mindsets has largely overlooked the adolescent developmental period, a time when adolescents are navigating the complexities of moral life and experiencing tensions between important moral principles and their own actions. This study investigated how moral incrementalism and essentialism are linked to how adolescents construct meanings about their moral experiences. The sample included 96 Canadian adolescents (12-15-years of age; M = 13.5 years). Adolescents generated written narratives of times when they acted inconsistently and consistently with a moral value, and completed a vignette-based measure of moral mindsets. Moral incrementalism was associated with references to the psychological and emotional facets of experiences and engaging in meaning-making processes in narratives. Adolescents who endorsed incrementalism disengaged less only when narrating a self-discrepant experience, indicating some context-specificity across moral event types. Overall, results contribute to scholarship on moral mindset and narrative identity construction. Findings illuminate how individual differences in youth's views of moral traits and behavior may be associated with important aspects of moral identity development such as delving into the psychological and emotional aspects of their experiences and engaging in meaning-making processes.

Development of moral identity: From the age of responsibility to adult maturity

The field of moral identity research comprises two different views as to when moral identity emerges in the course of development. While some describe moral identity as a developmental achievement of middle childhood, others maintain that it does not emerge before adolescence or early adulthood. The present paper bridges these views by introducing a new theoretical framework for conceptualizing moral identity development. Within this framework, moral identity is conceptualized as a goal, namely the goal to be a moral person. Children, adolescents and adults are all assumed to have this moral identity goal. Yet, its goal characteristics are expected to systematically change with development: from concrete to abstract, from externally to internally motivated, and from prevention- to promotion-oriented. From the age of responsibility to adult maturity, important changes are proposed in how the moral identity goal is represented and how it motivates moral action. By outlining these changes, the paper links early- and late-onset views of moral identity development and identifies avenues for future empirical research.

Organizational Implications of Pope Francis’ Integral Ecology

We explore Pope Francis's “integral ecology” in the encyclical Laudato Si (Francis, 2015) as it provides us with an agenda for a planetary virtue ethic that should inspire the field of Organizational Development to reconsider the moral implications of our work. We begin by offering the framework of virtue ethics as a way of understanding Laudato Si (LS). We then summarize the argument in LS as it focuses on four ecological issues—climate change, pollution, water, and the plight of the poor as we tease out the document's implicit virtue ethic. Finally, we propose how OD practitioners can become more aware of the lens through which they approach their task, thereby coming to regard organizational change initiatives and moral-identity development as a single, undifferentiated, act.

Neural processing of moral content reflects moral identity in 10‐year‐old children

Middle childhood seems to be crucial for the emergence of a moral identity, that is, an evaluative stance of how important it is for someone's sense of self to be moral. This study investigates the effects of moral identity on the neural processing of moral content in 10-year-old children. Participants were presented with scenes portraying prosocial and antisocial behavior, while electroencephalographic responses were collected. Analyses of event-related potentials (ERPs) showed that, for children with a strong moral identity, antisocial scenes elicited a greater early posterior negativity (EPN) as compared to prosocial scenes. Thus, for children with a strong moral identity, antisocial scenes capture more attentional resources than prosocial ones in early processing stages. In contrast to previous findings with adults, the implicit moral self-concept was not related to any ERP differences. Overall, the results show that, even in its developmental emergence, moral identity relates to the neurocognitive processing of third-party moral content. Together, the study supports the social-cognitive model of the development of moral identity, according to which moral identity is based on a chronical activation of moral schemas that guide a person's perception of the social world.

Managers as Moral Leaders: Moral Identity Processes in the Context of Work

This qualitative study explores how business leaders narrate their personal ways of recognizing, reasoning, and resolving moral conflicts and what these stories reveal about their moral identity processes within organizational contexts. Based on interviews with 25 business leaders, 4 moral identity statuses were identified: achievement (commitment to a personally meaningful moral value framework that had been established through a period of self-exploration), moratorium (self-exploration of one’s moral value framework that was ongoing), foreclosure (commitment to a given moral value framework that was present with little or no personal self-exploration), and diffusion (neither clear commitment to nor exploration of a personal moral value framework was present). The moral identity statuses were based on how leaders approached and interpreted moral conflicts and what the influence of the organizational context was in their moral decision-making processes. Some remained steadfast in adhering to their previous value commitments, while others tried to avoid taking any clear moral standpoint. Still others experienced moral conflicts as disequilibrating events that triggered reflective processes and developmental cycles of moral identity change. These moral identity statuses hold implications for facilitating moral identity development among business leaders in the context of work.

Moral Identity in Adolescence

This paper describes a study performed to conceptualize moral identity development among Jordanian adolescents, and to test for age and gender differences. Data came from four local schools sample (N: 321; 10–15 years of age) of adolescents. All variables were self-report. The measure was the Moral Identity Scale by Aquino and Reed (2002), which showed good reliability, and validity. Moral identity was unrelated to age and gender. The involvement in school activities was not related to moral identity. Recommendations and implications of future research were discussed. Keywords : moral identity, adolescents in Jordan. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-9-09 Publication date: March 31 st 2020

Moral Conflicts as a Motor of Moral Identity Development at Work: Self-Awareness and Micro Processes in Weekly Experiences

ABSTRACTBased on the identity process model, we investigated developmental differences in moral identity between leaders by analyzing their personal experiences of and reactions to actual moral conflicts at work. Using a longitudinal (16-week) qualitative design, we collected weekly moral conflict stories from ten leaders. First, after an inductive exploratory analysis we found that the leaders showed different levels of awareness (descriptive, reflective, and evaluative) with regard to how far they were able to identify their own role, values, feelings, and behaviors in each moral conflict. Second, after a theory-driven analysis, the integrated model of the micro processes of identity development was found applicable to the moral domain: Assimilation, accommodation, and withdrawal were identifiable from the leaders’ reactions to moral conflicts. In addition, we identified subcategories of defensive, self-protective, and morally courageous responses to the conflicts. Leaders were more likely to use a variety of ways to maintain their existing value framework than to show major changes in their personal values. Thus, a prerequisite for moral identity development seems to be the ability to reflect and evaluate one’s moral framework from multiple viewpoints, as this can lead to more flexibility, and eventually, a readiness for change.

A MAN IS IN INFORMATIVE SOCIETY: PROBLEM OF MORAL AUTHENTICATION

Problem of setting. On the modern stage the problem of authentication of man acquires the special actuality, as values are changing, morally spiritual constituents of the world view field of man, the traditional forms of communication are transformed.Recent of research and publications analysis. The results of analysis testify that the evolution of problem of identity is traced both in works of classics of foreign philosophy, psychology and sociology and in works of modern oversea and domestic researchers. At the same time, without regard to the present theoretical base of the probed phenomena, their reflection in the conditions of informative society needs clarifications taking into account new informatively technological processes.Paper of objective. The purpose of the article is an attempt of comprehension of phenomena of moral authentication of man in the conditions of informative society.Paper main body. In the information society becomes relevant to the human desire to avoid public relations, which is due to her instability as an element in the structure of society. Its main determinants are the processes of individualization and personalization, which arise as a result of changing conceptual orientations that give rise to the formation of semideterminate the subject who feels the need to establish new boundaries of their existence. The information society is unlimited space for semiconstrained personality, on the one hand, expanding the space of identification, and, on the other, narrowing the identity by choosing an increasingly narrow cultural gaps for identity. The paradox of the information society is also expressed in bipolar interpretations of the phenomenon of loneliness, which is one of segments of identity: on the one hand, Informatization of society brings people together, and with another – more transformerait it in society total solitude. Interaction between people in society is superficial because the real communication is supplanted by the unreal, virtual.Information processes, forming an eclectic, fragmented social space, transformerait ideological paradigm, and at the same time, contribute to the development of creativity and the changing horizons of individual existence, determine the information the identity of a person. In the information environment one is confronted with multiple identity types, which are subject to positive and negative changes under the influence of information and communication technologies. Chief among them are two types of identity: ipse-identity (sense of self) and idem-identity (a more formal identity depends on the context, environment and situation). An important role for the development of human moral identity in the information society communication. It is in the process of interpersonal communication it receives additional information about yourself, and comparing yourself with a lot of other people, people can understand themselves, to realize what it really is.Conclusions of the research. The problem of human identification in a changing ideological paradigm of the information society is important and requires elaboration on a philosophical level settings, which help the individual to maintain their identity under the influence of intensive information flows. The basis of moral identity is the identity, that is, a look into their inner world and find himself at any time, so the individual reflexive refers to himself with the purpose of understanding the self.

Coaches Who Care: Moral Exemplars in Collegiate Athletics

This study examines moral exemplar coaches to better understand how they are able to maintain integrity in the high-stakes environment of NCAA Division-I college sport. In-depth interviews based on moral exemplar and moral identity development theories were conducted with peer-nominated, “moral exemplar” Division-I collegiate head coaches (n = 12). Interviews elicited themes of moral exemplarity, including, for example, having an internalized moral compass and engaging in ongoing personal and professional growth. Illuminating themes and mechanisms by which these coaches develop and sustain moral identity can inform applied work with coach education efforts for current and future members of the profession.Lay Summary:This study looks at coaches who are known by their peers and athletic directors as having strong morals and integrity despite the challenges they face balancing the competing values of fostering athlete well-being with winning while working in the highly competitive environment of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I athletics.

ПСИХОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ УСЛОВИЯ И ИНДИКАТОРЫ ПЕРЕХОДА ЮНОШЕСТВА ОТ ДИФФУЗНОЙ НРАВСТВЕННО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ ИДЕНТИФИКАЦИИ К ОСОЗНАННОМУ САМООПРЕДЕЛЕНИЮ В ПРОБЛЕМНО-КОНФЛИКТНЫХ СИТУАЦИЯХ

ПСИХОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ УСЛОВИЯ И ИНДИКАТОРЫ ПЕРЕХОДА ЮНОШЕСТВА ОТ ДИФФУЗНОЙ НРАВСТВЕННО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЙ ИДЕНТИФИКАЦИИ К ОСОЗНАННОМУ САМООПРЕДЕЛЕНИЮ В ПРОБЛЕМНО-КОНФЛИКТНЫХ СИТУАЦИЯХ

The role of gratitude and moral elevation in moral identity development

Experiencing the moral emotions of gratitude and moral elevation are responses to witnessing virtuous deeds of others. Both emotions have been found to share similar features and behavioral consequences, including the stimulation of personal development. The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions indicates that gratitude and elevation prompt the long-term development of lasting resources. Moral identity has been found to be a personal resource in the moral domain since it is associated with higher levels of moral functioning. Therefore, using a two-wave cross-lagged panel design, the current study investigated the causal role of trait gratitude and trait elevation as antecedents of short-term moral identity development. At two points of time (time interval 17 months), a heterogeneous sample of n = 129 adults with a broad range of age completed measures of trait gratitude, trait moral elevation (engagement with moral beauty), and moral identity (internalization and symbolization of the Aquino–Reed framework). In line with our hypotheses, trait moral elevation predicted increases in moral identity internalization. In contrast to our hypotheses, the development of trait gratitude was predicted by moral identity internalization, and not the other way around. Exploratory analyses showed that no cross-lagged effects could be found for the symbolization dimension. In addition, a multi-group analysis explored which of the cross-lagged effects could be generalized across age groups. The results are discussed in the context of the moral emotion research.

Ethical professional identity and the development of moral exemplar collegiate coaches

Coaches have the potential to influence athletes’ moral development, especially at the collegiate level—a powerful period of growth in young adults’ lives. As central agents in athlete moral education, coaches’ moral development and understanding of professionalism is currently unknown. The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of the ethical professional identity development of sport coaches. In-depth interviews based on moral exemplar and moral identity development theories were conducted with NCAA Division-I collegiate head coaches (n = 12) in the United States who were peer nominated ‘moral exemplars’. Interviews elicited themes of moral exemplarity, professionalism, and above average ethical identity development. Results can inform and improve coach education for current and future members of the profession.