Study Notes on Moral Disengagement and Human Aggression.

Grading and Class Format

  • Assignment Grades

    • Entered for the writing assignment from last week.

  • In-Class Assignments and Pop Quizzes

    • Total of five assignments/quizzes throughout the semester.
    • Expectations for Thursday classes:
    • Strictly in-class assignments.
    • Potential for pop quizzes.
    • Excused Absences
    • If you have an excused absence for Thursday, you must inform the instructor to receive credit.
    • Without an excuse, no credit will be given as the assignments are designed to reward attendance.

Chapter Four Review: Moral Disengagement

  • Previous Topic: Bystander Effect

    • Relevant to student writing assignment.

  • Next Topic: Moral Disengagement

Definition of Moral Disengagement

  • Moral Disengagement
    • The process of freeing oneself from one's own moral standards in order to act against those standards.
    • Allows individuals to act illegally or inhumanely while still feeling good about themselves.

Bandura's Theories

  • Social Cognitive Learning Theory
    • People internalize moral principles through social cognitive learning, which promotes self-worth when maintained and self-condemnation when violated.
    • This internalization can lead to a sense of moral agency, defined as behaving in a moral manner.

Implications of Moral Disengagement

  • Greater moral disengagement correlates with increased involvement in aggressive and antisocial behaviors.
  • Dehumanization
    • A component of moral disengagement; relates to desensitization and how individuals can commit inhumane acts.
    • Example: Discussed a Lifetime movie based on a true story of domestic violence and the dehumanization involved in such actions.
Example of Dehumanization
  1. Case Study of Julia Aguilar
    • True story involving a husband planning to kill his pregnant wife to be with his mistress.
    • Described the brutal attack and its psychological impact on the victim.
    • Despite the horrific nature of the crime, the perpetrator was able to remain detached from moral implications due to moral disengagement.

Eight Mechanisms of Moral Disengagement (Bandura)

  1. Moral Justification

    • Acting for a perceived greater good to justify immoral actions.
    • Example: Justifying killing an abortion provider to save unborn lives.

  2. Euphemistic Language

    • Using harmless terms to describe harmful actions, reducing their perceived severity.
    • Example: Referring to civilian casualties as "collateral damage."

  3. Advantageous Comparison

    • Justifying bad behavior by comparing it to worse actions by others.
    • Example: Justifying arson against a sex offender by claiming their crime is worse.

  4. Displacement of Responsibility

    • Attributing actions to authority figures who ordered them, absolving personal accountability.
    • Example: A bookkeeper lies due to being ordered by a higher authority.

  5. Diffusion of Responsibility

    • Reducing individual responsibility by sharing it among a group involved in the action.
    • Example: A group committing a robbery together dilutes individual guilt.

  6. Disregard, Distortion, and Denial of Harm

    • Failing to acknowledge harm caused or believing no harm was done.
    • Example: Illegal dumping of hazardous materials but claiming no observable harm results.

  7. Disengagement by Observers

    • Bystanders failing to intervene in harmful situations, justifying inaction by believing it's not their responsibility.
    • Example: Witnessing an assault but not reporting it.

  8. Dehumanization of the Victim

    • Viewing the victim as less than human, allowing for more brutal treatment.
    • Example: Treatment of wartime enemies as inferior beings.

Chapter Five: Introduction to Human Aggression and Violence

  • Transition from Criminal Behavior Origins Chapter
    • Focus will shift to human aggression and violence, acknowledging prior discussions on aggression.

Definitions and Concepts

  • Aggression
    • Behavior characterized by intent to harm others or destroy objects.
    • Recognizes that aggression can manifest in physical and verbal forms.
Types of Aggression
  1. Verbal and Physical Aggression
    • Physical aggression is further categorized as:
      • Active Direct: Physical harm like punching or hitting.
      • Active Indirect: Harmful behavior like practical jokes or manipulation behind someone's back.
      • Passive Direct: Obstructing someone physically.
      • Passive Indirect: Failing to take action to help or complete tasks.
  • Passive Aggressive Behavior
    • Hostile actions that do not inflict direct harm.
Reactive Impulsive Aggression
  • Subtypes
  1. Hostile Aggression
    • Response to anger-inducing conditions, aimed at making the victim suffer.
    • Related to frustration or perceived threat; problematic when not managed.
  2. Controlled Instrumental Aggression
    • Goal-oriented, aiming for competition or status.
    • Physical harm may occur if the goal is obstructed.
Classification of Violence
  • Violence
    • Defined as destructive physical aggression aimed at harming others or property.
    • Key Differences:
    • All violent behavior is aggressive, but not all aggression results in violence.
    • Psychological harm can also be a facet of aggression.
Hamby's Four Components of Violence
  1. Non-Essential
    • Behavior does not serve a legitimate function that could be achieved by nonviolent means.
  2. Unwanted
    • Acts that the victim does not desire from the perpetrator.
  3. Harmful
    • Actions resulting in injury, death, or psychological affects.
  4. Intentional
    • Malicious behavior purposefully designed to cause harm.
  • Legal Equivalent: Related to the concept of malice aforethought in criminal law.

Conclusion

  • Open the floor to questions and discussions about the topics covered.