Exploring the moral factor: The influence of locus of control and moral disengagement on moral judgement

Pages: 291-296
Jayati Bhattacharyya and Deepshikha Ray (Department of Psychology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata)

The present study aims to assess the influence of locus of control and moral disengagement on the moral judgment of young adults. 80 males and 80 females of age group 21-25 years were assessed on the dimensions of locus of control and moral disengagement. It was found out how these factors predicted the moral judgments of the sample in two situations situation 1 where out-group is perpetrator of violent acts and situation 2 where out-group is victim of such acts. Results show positive relationship between moral disengagement and punitive moral judgement. Males, as a group, are more likely to endorse judgments on moral issues than that of females. Socially defined group boundaries as the in group out group dichotomy in the present study facilitates differential moral judgement for the two groups.