The Effect of Moral Urges and Moral Identity as a Mediator in the Relationship between Moral Discord and Bullying in Primary Schools in Tehran.

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Masoume Torkashvand ¹
• Gholamreza Sarami ²
• Hadi Keramati ³
• Robabe Noori ³

¹ Ph.D. in educational psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Educational Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran.

³ Associate Professor, Department of Educational Psychology, Kharazmi University, Tehran.

10.30495/jpmm.2024.32686.3881

Abstract

Background and purpose: In this study, the mediating role of moral emotion and moral identity in relation to moral disengagement and bullying has been investigated.
Methods: For this purpose, 486 students were selected through cluster sampling method among all the primary school students in Tehran. There were 254 male and 232 female students. They completed the Bullying Scale, the Moral Disruption Scale, the Moral Emotions Scale, and the Moral Identity Questionnaire.  This study was conducted using structural equation modeling with the help of SPSS22 and PLS-SEM software.
Findings: It has been shown that moral identity and moral emotion both have a mediating role in the relationship between moral Disengagement and bullying.
Conclusion: Therefore, it can be concluded that according to the concept of the moral agency from Bandura's social cognitive theory, emotional factors should be considered in addition to cognitive factors and moral reasoning in order to examine the moral behavior of individuals.

Keywords

• Bullying
• Moral Disengagement
• Moral Emotion
• Moral Identity

Main Subjects

• Psychological Models and Methods

---

References

1- Kohlberg L. Moral stages and moralization: The cognitive-developmental approach. In T. Lickona (Ed.), Moral development and behavior: Theory, research, and social issues. 1976. (pp. 31–53). New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.

2- Kohlberg L. Essays on moral development: The psychology of moral development: Moral stages and the idea of justice. San Francisco: 1984. Vol. 2. Harper & Row.

3- Piaget J. The moral judgment of the child. New York: 1932. Free Press.

4- Emler N, Tarry H. Clutching at straws: Is it time to abandon the moral judgment deficit explanation for delinquency? British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 2017. 25, 191–195.

5- Gibbs, J. C. Moral development and reality: Beyond the theories of Kohlberg and Hoffman. Boston: 2020. Allyn & Bacon.

6- Turiel E. The development of social knowledge. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press. 1983.

7- Nucci LP. Education in the moral domain. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2021.

8- Hymel S, Schonert-Reichl KA, Bonanno RA, Vaillancourt T, Rocke Henderson N. Bullying and morality. In S. R. Jimerson, S. M. Swearer, & D. L. Espelage (Eds.), Handbook of bullying in schools: An international perspective, 2020, (pp. 101–118). New York: Routledge.

9- Thornberg R, Pozzoli T, Jungert T. Unique and Interactive Effects Of  Moral Emotions and Moral Disengagement On Bullying and Defending Among School Children, The Elementary  School Journal, 2021, 116, 322-337.

10- Hymel S, Rocke-Henderson N, Bonanno RA. Moral disengagement: A framework
for understanding bullying among adolescents. Journal of Social Sciences, 2015, 8, 1–11.

11- Obermann M-L. Moral disengagement in self-reported and peer-nominated school bullying. Aggressive Behavior, 2021, 37, 133–144. doi:10.1002/ab.20378.

12- Gini G. Social cognition and moral cognition in bullying: What’s wrong? Aggressive Behavior, 2016, 32, 528–539. doi:10.1002/ab.20153.

13- Gini G, Pozzoli T, Hymel Sh. Moral Disengagement Among Children and Youth: A Meta‐Analytic Review of Links to Aggressive Behavior. AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR, 2019, 40, 56-68.

14- Perren S, Gutzwiller-Helfenfinger E. Cyberbullying and traditional bullying in adolescence: Differential roles of moral disengagement, moral emotions, and moral values. European
Journal of Developmental Psychology, (2022). 9, 195–209. doi:10.1080/17405629.2011.643168

15- Blasi A, Moral cognition and moral action: A theoretical perspective. Developmental Review; 1983, (3):178-210.

16- Rest J, Thoma S, Edwards L. Designing and Validating a Measure of Moral Judgment: Stage Preference and Stage Consistency Approaches, Journal of Educational Psychology. 2000, 89(1), 5-28.

17- Eisenberg N. Emotion, regulation, and moral development. Annual Review of Psychology, 2000, 51, 665–697. doi:10.1146/annurev.psych. 51.1.665

18- Hoffman ML. Empathy and moral development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 2010.

19- Haidt J. The moral emotions. In R. J. Davidson, K. R. Scherer, & H. H. Goldsmith (Eds.), Handbook of affective sciences, 2013, (pp. 852–870). New York: Oxford University Press.

20- Gray K, Wegner DM. Dimensions of moral emotions. Emotion Review, 2021, 3, 258–260

21- Bierhoff H-W. Prosocial behavior. Hove: Psychology Press. 2022.

22- Almedia A, Correia I, Marinho, S. Moral disengagement, normative beliefs of peer group, and attitudes regarding roles in bullying. Journal of School Violence, 2020, 9, 23–36. doi:10.1080/ 15388220903185639.

23- Bandura A, Barbaranelli C, Caprara GV, Pastorelli C. Mechanisms of moral disengagement in the exercise of moral agency. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1996, 71, 364– 374. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.71.2.364

24- Malti T, Gummerum M, Keller M. Children’s Moral Motivation, Sympathy, and Prosocial Behavior, Child Development, 2019, 80(2), 442–460.

25- Thornberg R, Jungert T. Bystander behavior in bullying situations: Basic moral sensitivity, moral disengagement and defender self-efficacy. Journal of Adolescence, 2020, 36, 475– 483.
doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.02.003

26- Travlos K, Barkoukis B, Douma I. The Effect of Moral Disengagement on Bullying: Testing the Moderating Role of Personal and Social Factors. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2018, 1, 1-20.

27- Hardy S, Carlo G. Moral identity: What is it, How Does It Develop, and Is It Link to Moral Action? Child Development perspectives; 2021, 3(5):212-218.

28- Murrell SA, Salsman NL, Meeks S. Educational attainment, positive psychological mediators, and resources for health and vitality in older adults. Aging and Health, 2013, 15, 591−615.

29- Phillips DA. Punking and Bullying: Strategies in middle school, high school, and beyond. Interpersonal Violence, 2020, 22,158-178.

 30- Hart D, Carlo G. Moral Development in Adolescence. Journal of Research on Adolescence; 2005, 15(3):223-233.

31- Aquino K, Reed A, The Self Importance of Moral Identity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2010, 83:1423-1440

32- Pornari CD, Wood J. Peer and cyber aggression in secondary school students: The role of moral disengagement, hostile attribution bias, and outcome expectancies. Aggressive Behavior, 2010, 36, 81–94. doi:10.1002/ab.20336.

33- Homan HA. Modeling structural equations using Lisrel software. Tehran: Samt Publications. 1384.