Introduction: People generally act in accordance with their moral values; however, when moral action entails costs they prefer to avoid, individuals may resort to moral disengagement strategies to cope with the consequences of their behavior. Objectives: Given that obsessive–compulsive disorder is associated with heightened responsibility, and vulnerability to guilt and anger, this study examines whether individuals with high levels of obsessiveness report stronger emotional reactions after being confronted with an unethical choice and learning about its consequences, and to what extent these emotions predict the use of moral disengagement. Method: A total of 162 individuals (M_age = 32.07 years; SD = 9.95), divided into two groups based on their OCI score (91st percentile), completed measures of obsessiveness, moral identity, shame, guilt, and moral disengagement. Participants were then randomized to receive one of two scenarios depicting an ethical vs. unethical choice and its consequences, after which the elicited emotions and the level of moral disengagement were assessed. Results: Compared to the nonclinical group, the high-OCI group reported higher levels of guilt [F(1, 159) = 18.89, p < .001], shame [F(1, 159) = 27.94, p < .001], and moral disengagement [F(1, 159) = 14.58, p < .001]. They also displayed more guilt [F(1, 156) = 7.87, p = .006] and anger toward the person who confronted them with the choice [F(1, 156) = 8.27, p = .005], as well as greater guilt [F(1, 152) = 4.20, p = .042] and pride [F(1, 152) = 7.36, p = .007] upon learning about the consequences. Finally, higher levels of obsessive symptoms (β = .473, p = .016), anger (β = .310, p = .002), and pride (β = .197, p = .039), along with lower levels of guilt (β = –.231, p = .041), predicted greater use of conduct reconstruction and victim-blaming mechanisms. Implications: Individuals with obsessive symptoms experience heightened distress when faced with moral dilemmas. Moral disengagement may function as a strategy to modulate perceived responsibility.
Moral Emotions and Moral Disengagement in Response to an Unethical Behaviour and its Consequences: A Study on Individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Symptomatology / Fimiani, Ramona; Papa, Carolina; D'Olimpio, Francesca; Mancini, Francesco; Perdighe, Claudia. - (2025). ( L’eredità umana e scientifica di Albert Bandura a cento anni dalla nascita. La forza delle convinzioni, il coraggio del cambiamento. Roma ).
Moral Emotions and Moral Disengagement in Response to an Unethical Behaviour and its Consequences: A Study on Individuals with Obsessive-Compulsive Symptomatology
Ramona Fimiani;Carolina Papa;Claudia Perdighe
2025
Abstract
Introduction: People generally act in accordance with their moral values; however, when moral action entails costs they prefer to avoid, individuals may resort to moral disengagement strategies to cope with the consequences of their behavior. Objectives: Given that obsessive–compulsive disorder is associated with heightened responsibility, and vulnerability to guilt and anger, this study examines whether individuals with high levels of obsessiveness report stronger emotional reactions after being confronted with an unethical choice and learning about its consequences, and to what extent these emotions predict the use of moral disengagement. Method: A total of 162 individuals (M_age = 32.07 years; SD = 9.95), divided into two groups based on their OCI score (91st percentile), completed measures of obsessiveness, moral identity, shame, guilt, and moral disengagement. Participants were then randomized to receive one of two scenarios depicting an ethical vs. unethical choice and its consequences, after which the elicited emotions and the level of moral disengagement were assessed. Results: Compared to the nonclinical group, the high-OCI group reported higher levels of guilt [F(1, 159) = 18.89, p < .001], shame [F(1, 159) = 27.94, p < .001], and moral disengagement [F(1, 159) = 14.58, p < .001]. They also displayed more guilt [F(1, 156) = 7.87, p = .006] and anger toward the person who confronted them with the choice [F(1, 156) = 8.27, p = .005], as well as greater guilt [F(1, 152) = 4.20, p = .042] and pride [F(1, 152) = 7.36, p = .007] upon learning about the consequences. Finally, higher levels of obsessive symptoms (β = .473, p = .016), anger (β = .310, p = .002), and pride (β = .197, p = .039), along with lower levels of guilt (β = –.231, p = .041), predicted greater use of conduct reconstruction and victim-blaming mechanisms. Implications: Individuals with obsessive symptoms experience heightened distress when faced with moral dilemmas. Moral disengagement may function as a strategy to modulate perceived responsibility.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
