On moral disengagement
Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2018 1:59 am
Here, to provoke a discussion on an important topic, are some reviews of a book that came out in 2016 - a book that you may want to order for your local library. After reading this masterwork, let us know what your have learned, and what you think about the relevance and import of the case he makes.
Albert Bandura, in his book of Moral Disengagement, begins by showing how our moral compass works. He builds this foundation, brick by brick, with solid research. Then he details the four mechanisms we use to engage or disengage our moral compass. When it’s engaged, we judge our actions against our values. When it’s disengaged, we feel good even when we behave badly. Good people become capable of doing cruel things …capable of even barbaric cruelty.
Bandura has written a new masterpiece. A must-read by the world's foremost psychologist. This is written to be read, and it shows. The prose flows well, and it's not filled with jargon. Bandura sets up his model in thr first two chapters then applies moral disengagement theory to many domains of law, policy, and everything in between. From gun policy to the environment to corporate greed, Bandura captures how otherwise good people can do evil-- and live with themselves!
One of the nation’s greatest thinkers, has given us a scholarly dissertation on the mechanisms employed by people to justify doing harm to others while absolving themselves of blame for their actions. Using these mechanisms, they are able to disengage from any self sanctions that might otherwise prevent them from pursuing such harmful conduct. The book is replete with specific examples from modern times that offer a framework for understanding how individuals, corporations, governments, and other organizations can cause so much suffering, and even death, without experiencing remorse for their actions. He has characterized these mechanisms as “loopholes in the human conscience” by which people allow themselves to conduct inhumane acts while avoiding the anguish of self-condemnation. These mechanisms include “Moral Justification,” “Euphemistic Labelling,” “Advantageous Comparison,” “Displacement of Responsibility,” “Diffusion of Responsibility,” “Disregard or Distortion of Consequences,” and Dehumanization.” Chapter by chapter, he amply illustrates how each of these mechanisms has been employed—by the gun industry, tobacco companies, the entertainment industry, terrorists, climate change denialists, politicians and others—illuminating some of the most provocative examples of moral disengagement in our times, ranging from gun violence to climate change to terrorist attacks. The scope of his discourse includes such recent practices as the relentless promotion of e-cigarettes to our youth, the tragedy of the Charlie Hebdo terorrist attacks, and the summary dismissal by a certain segment of the populace of any human contribution to climate change. As Bandura says, “morality is governed socially rather than by inbred laws of nature, thus enabling people to shape the quality of life in their society.” Understanding the principles of moral disengagement is vital to the attainment of a better future for our nation and for our world; and a first step toward enabling us to help counter the perpetration of further inhumanities performed without condemnation,
The material in this book gives us an understanding why people behave immorally or commit atrocious acts and can still live in peace with themselves! This is a fascinating book to read, particularly the chapters on the gun industry, terrorism, and the environment. I couldn't put these chapters down. Dr. Bandura covers such timely issues and even discusses recent events such as the terrorist attack against Charlie Hebdo, the tobacco and e-cigarette industry, and recent environmental sustainability debates. It's a very illuminating read!
https://www.amazon.com/Moral-Disengagem ... op?ie=UTF8
Just as a meteorologist contributed so much to the early understanding of Chemistry, is it possible that a psychologist can profoundly aid our understanding of Ethical Theory?
See also: Ethics Unwrapped on the web;
and also see this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjuA4Xa7uiE
Also see - https://www.amazon.com/LIVING-SUCCESSFU ... B01NBKS42C - which came out in 2017.
Albert Bandura, in his book of Moral Disengagement, begins by showing how our moral compass works. He builds this foundation, brick by brick, with solid research. Then he details the four mechanisms we use to engage or disengage our moral compass. When it’s engaged, we judge our actions against our values. When it’s disengaged, we feel good even when we behave badly. Good people become capable of doing cruel things …capable of even barbaric cruelty.
Bandura has written a new masterpiece. A must-read by the world's foremost psychologist. This is written to be read, and it shows. The prose flows well, and it's not filled with jargon. Bandura sets up his model in thr first two chapters then applies moral disengagement theory to many domains of law, policy, and everything in between. From gun policy to the environment to corporate greed, Bandura captures how otherwise good people can do evil-- and live with themselves!
One of the nation’s greatest thinkers, has given us a scholarly dissertation on the mechanisms employed by people to justify doing harm to others while absolving themselves of blame for their actions. Using these mechanisms, they are able to disengage from any self sanctions that might otherwise prevent them from pursuing such harmful conduct. The book is replete with specific examples from modern times that offer a framework for understanding how individuals, corporations, governments, and other organizations can cause so much suffering, and even death, without experiencing remorse for their actions. He has characterized these mechanisms as “loopholes in the human conscience” by which people allow themselves to conduct inhumane acts while avoiding the anguish of self-condemnation. These mechanisms include “Moral Justification,” “Euphemistic Labelling,” “Advantageous Comparison,” “Displacement of Responsibility,” “Diffusion of Responsibility,” “Disregard or Distortion of Consequences,” and Dehumanization.” Chapter by chapter, he amply illustrates how each of these mechanisms has been employed—by the gun industry, tobacco companies, the entertainment industry, terrorists, climate change denialists, politicians and others—illuminating some of the most provocative examples of moral disengagement in our times, ranging from gun violence to climate change to terrorist attacks. The scope of his discourse includes such recent practices as the relentless promotion of e-cigarettes to our youth, the tragedy of the Charlie Hebdo terorrist attacks, and the summary dismissal by a certain segment of the populace of any human contribution to climate change. As Bandura says, “morality is governed socially rather than by inbred laws of nature, thus enabling people to shape the quality of life in their society.” Understanding the principles of moral disengagement is vital to the attainment of a better future for our nation and for our world; and a first step toward enabling us to help counter the perpetration of further inhumanities performed without condemnation,
The material in this book gives us an understanding why people behave immorally or commit atrocious acts and can still live in peace with themselves! This is a fascinating book to read, particularly the chapters on the gun industry, terrorism, and the environment. I couldn't put these chapters down. Dr. Bandura covers such timely issues and even discusses recent events such as the terrorist attack against Charlie Hebdo, the tobacco and e-cigarette industry, and recent environmental sustainability debates. It's a very illuminating read!
https://www.amazon.com/Moral-Disengagem ... op?ie=UTF8
Just as a meteorologist contributed so much to the early understanding of Chemistry, is it possible that a psychologist can profoundly aid our understanding of Ethical Theory?
See also: Ethics Unwrapped on the web;
and also see this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjuA4Xa7uiE
Also see - https://www.amazon.com/LIVING-SUCCESSFU ... B01NBKS42C - which came out in 2017.
