Moral Psychology Class Overview and Key Concepts

Moral Psychology Introduction

  • Instructor: Dr. Allan McGroarty

Class Overview

  • Lecture Topics:   - Moral Development   - Moral Intuitionism   - Moral Pluralism   - Moral Binding   - Traditional Moral Psychology   - Modern Moral Psychology

  • Readings:   - Two textbooks that cover the fundamental concepts and theories.   - Journal articles included in the reading list to supplement the textbooks with current research and discussions.

  • Exam Structure:   - Consists of two questions, chosen from a selection of six.   - Duration: 2 hours.

What is Morality?

  • Morality refers to the principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior.

Commonly Cited Types of Moral Conduct

  • Deference, Obedience, and Respect for Legitimate Authority vs. Disobedience:   - Moral actions often involve respecting authority figures and adhering to social norms, while disobedience raises questions about the moral justification for such actions.

  • Self-Control vs. Self-Indulgence:   - Morality is often seen in terms of one's ability to control impulses and desires, leading to self-discipline over succumbing to immediate gratification.

  • Altruism vs. Maliciousness:   - The motivations behind actions range from selfless concern for the well-being of others (altruism) to actions driven by harmful intentions (maliciousness).

  • Fairness vs. Unfairness:   - This duality examines how individuals and societies perceive justice, equity, and equal treatment versus bias and discrimination.

  • Honesty vs. Dishonesty:   - Moral considerations involve the truthfulness of actions and words, contrasting integrity with deception and fraudulence.

Three Components of Morality

  • Emotional:   - This component encompasses feelings and emotional responses related to moral situations (e.g., guilt, empathy, outrage).

  • Cognitive:   - Refers to the reasoning and thought processes involved in moral judgments and decision-making (e.g., understanding consequences, ethical theories).

  • Behavioural:   - This involves the actual conduct and actions taken in moral situations (e.g., whether individuals act on moral beliefs).

Class Reiteration of Overview

  • Re-emphasizes the major topics of Discussion:   - Moral Development
      - Moral Intuitionism
      - Moral Pluralism
      - Moral Binding
      - Traditional and Modern Approaches to Moral Psychology