Why True Believers Make the Ultimate Sacrifice: Sacred Values, Moral Convictions, or Identity Fusion?

Recent research has identified three promising candidates for predicting extreme behavior: sacred values, moral convictions, and identity fusion. Each construct is thought to motivate extreme behavior in unique ways: Sacred values trigger extreme actions when people are asked to compromise cause-related values for personal gain; moral convictions trigger extreme actions when a cause is aligned with one’s moral compass; and identity fusion triggers extreme actions when a cause is inextricably associated (“fused”) with the personal self. In six studies, we asked which of the three constructs (either alone or in combination) was most predictive of sacrifice for a cause. We measured all three constructs with respect to either of two causes: gun rights (Studies 1–3) or abortion rights (4–6). The outcome measure was endorsement of fighting and dying for the cause. Although all three constructs were significant predictors of the outcome measure when considered separately, identity fusion consistently emerged as the strongest predictor of endorsement of self-sacrifice when all three were considered simultaneously. This pattern occurred regardless of the target cause (gun or abortion rights), the participant’s position on the cause (i.e., pro-gun or anti-gun, pro-choice, or pro-life), or nationality (American vs. Spanish). Also, there was no evidence that the predictors interacted to predict the outcome measure. Finally, a manipulation that threatened the validity of the personal self strengthened the relationship between endorsement of self-sacrifice and both (a) identity fusion and (b) moral convictions. The latter finding suggests that threats to the validity of one’s self-views may amplify the extreme behaviors of true believers.

Ethical Bearing Is About Our Conduct: Ethics as an Essential Component of Military Interprofessional Healthcare Teams

ABSTRACT Introduction The need to maintain medical ethical standards during conflict and peace has been the source of considerable academic discourse. Although still an unsolved challenge, scholars have made significant contributions to the literature, constructing categorizations that can help military providers contend with ethical conflicts. However, insights into the ethical comportment of military interprofessional healthcare teams (MIHTs) have yet to be reported. Materials and Methods This interview-based study collected insights from 30 military healthcare providers who participated in and/or led MIHTs. Altogether, participants represented 11 health professions, both officers and enlisted military members, and the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force. Following Grounded Theory methodology, data were collected and analyzed in iterative cycles until theme saturation was reached. Results The research team identified two themes of ethical bearing that enable MIHT success in and across care contexts. One theme of successful ethical bearing is “raising concerns,” referring to speaking up when something needs to be addressed. The other is “making compromises,” where individuals have to make sacrifices (e.g., lack of equipment, non-sterile environment, etc.) to give patient care. Conclusions These data suggest that effective MIHTs have a collective moral compass. This moral compass is the team’s ability to judge what is ethically right and wrong, as well as the team’s willingness and ability to act accordingly—to consistently “do the right thing.” There is a collective moral compass, and while the team may not all agree on what exactly is true north—they are all bending that way.

The Role of Families, Schools, and Colleges

This chapter explores the challenges for families and schools in channeling ambitions in more productive directions. Today’s adolescents confront a world of growing pressures, which are also increasing mental health challenges. Parents’ vicarious ambitions can compound the problems if they push children to focus too much on extrinsic markers of success at the expense of intrinsic motivations to learn and ethical values. Both schools and families should help students to develop persistence, resilience, a strong moral compass, and commitment to the common good. Opportunities for service learning, internships and mentorships can encourage constructive ambitions. So too, parents and colleges must better control the preoccupation with prestige that has hijacked admission processes and encouraged gaming the system. Educators should also modify admission criteria such as legacy, donor, and athletic preferences that advantage already advantaged applicants.

Moral Challenges of Ethics Support Staff. Developing a Moral Compass for Facilitators of Moral Case Deliberation

"Ethics support staff often help others to deal with moral challenges. However, they themselves can also experience moral challenges when practicing ethics support. Facilitators of Moral Case Deliberation (MCD) sometimes for example experience ethical questions when it comes to (breaking) confidentiality. Facilitators might find themselves compelled to intervene or act upon things they hear or see whilst facilitating a MCD. For example, a MCD facilitator finds out that a participant does something illegal. Or, what to do if a MCD facilitator is asked to inform the Inspectorate about details of a MCD? When is a facilitator allowed or obligated to break confidentiality and share information with others? How to make such a decision? And, if allowed to break confidentiality, how to do this in a morally sound way? Currently there are no moral guidelines on how to act upon these questions. We conducted empirical research that explores moral challenges of MCD facilitators related to confidentiality and develops a moral compass which provides directions to approach these challenges. Data collection consists of three complementary methods: * analyses of 3 a 4 audiotaped and transcribed MCD sessions about how and when to break confidentiality; * in-depth interviews about the topic; * focus group to validate the findings and co-create a moral compass. In our presentation, we will reflect upon both the theoretical and normative considerations concerning confidentiality in ethics support and the empirical results of this study. Furthermore, we will present a preliminary version of a moral compass in order to strengthen the moral competency of MCD facilitators. "

Toward a total morality of supply chain acts

PurposeIn response to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights from 2011, several governments are enacting laws against exploitation in global supply chains. Such a legislative proposal is problematic in several respects. The authors aim to discuss these problems from an ethical perspective to provide a theoretical basis for law-setting and management decisions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper studies the question based on an ethical framework with a libertarian focus.FindingsFrom the perspective of a property rights-based ethics such a proposal prohibits voluntary exchanges and, thereby, a fundamental human right. From a utilitarian perspective it diminishes the utility of the parties of a potential exchange, because they cannot engage an exchange that they want to make. Moreover, it does not only shift an original state task to companies, but also tries to enforce specific values which are not shared all over the world, in third countries. In addition, it creates considerable restrictions on foreign procurement markets for domestic companies, which counteract the actual objective of the law.Research limitations/implicationsThe research provides managers with a moral compass regarding their supply chain decisions based on property rights ethics and utilitarian considerations. Based on that, they can weigh the arguments and make an informed decision. The paper is limited to these approaches that are often neglected in the public debate.Practical implicationsThe authors’ comprehensive discussion from the perspective of libertarian ethics can be helpful for managers in their decision-making.Social implicationsSupply chain acts have important social implications for people in developing countries as well as companies and consumers in Western countries. This study offers a comprehensive discussion from the perspective of libertarian ethics and can be helpful for entrepreneurs and managers in their decision-making.Originality/valueThe paper intends to encourage researchers from different disciplines to discuss the ethics of supply chain acts and to reflect governmental plans to transform the UN Guiding Principles in national law. It provides managers with a moral compass regarding their supply chain decisions based on property rights ethics and utilitarian considerations. Based on that, they can weigh the arguments and make an informed decision.

A Personal Tribute to Robert B. Sim with Reflections on Our Work Together on Factor H

Robert (Bob) Sim had a profound effect on almost every aspect of my approach to scientific research, acting as a mentor and moral compass through the many different stages of my career [...]