Ch. 3 Deciding what is right: A Psychological Approach Flashcards
What is Moral intensity?
The propensity for someone to behave ethically or unethically depending on the severity consequence associated with a particular ethical decision. When consequences are large and immediate moral intensity is high, causing people to behave ethically. When consequences are small and take a long time to occur, moral intensity is low, causing people to behave unethically.
List the four steps in the Issue Contingent Model of Ethical Decision-making (model for making an ethical or unethical decision).
- Recognize Moral Issue
- Make Moral Judgement
- Establish Moral Intent
- Engage in Moral Behaviour
List and define the 6 components of Moral Intensity.
- Proximity - the feeling of closeness that the actor/decision-maker feels for those affected by his or her actions/decisions
- Social Consensus - the degree of agreement that an action/decision is morally right or morally wrong
- Magnitude of Consequences - the overall “bigness” of the consequences of an action/decision
- Probability of Effect - The likelihood that possible outcomes of an action/decision will in fact occur if that action is taken
- Temporal Immediacy - How soon the effects of the action/decision will be felt
- Concentration of Effect - for a given effect, the degree to which it is concentrated on a few individuals
When a decision maker experiences an ethical dilemma, what 3 components of Moral Intensity influence his decision the MOST, causing him to recognize a moral issue, make good judgement, and do the right thing?
- social consensus,
- magnitude of consequences
- proximity
List and define two ethical decision-making styles.
- Idealism - a person’s concern for the welfare of others
- Relativism – a person’s emphases on ethical principles being dependent on the situation rather than being applied to all situations.
What is the Cognitive Moral Development model?
Stages are used to determine a person’s ability to make reasoned moral judgements. It consists of 3 levels, with 2 stages for each level. The higher the stage you are at, the better you behave when faced with ethical issues.
Describe what Level 1 of the Cognitive Moral Development model is.
Level 1: Pre-conventional Level - Determinations of right and wrong are based on pleasant or painful consequences (to the actor), and deference to the power of rule setters.The needs and interests of others are not considered.
Describe stage 1 and 2 of Level 1: Pre-conventional Level of the Cognitive Moral Development model.
Stage 1: Punishment and Obedience Orientation
Reasons for doing the right thing are to avoid punishment and defer to the power of rule-makers.
Stage 2: Instrumental/Exchange Orientation
Reason for doing the right thing is to gain rewards (i.e., right actions are “instruments” for satisfying one’s own needs). The person defers to others in order to get what he/she wants.
Describe what Level 2 of the Cognitive Moral Development model is.
Level 2: Conventional Level - Maintaining the expectations of family, peer group, or society is seen as valuable, regardless of the consequences.
The person accepts the group’s determination of right and wrong. Conformity and loyalty to group norms (i.e., “conventions”) is emphasized
Describe stage 3 and 4 of Level 2: Conventional Level of the Cognitive Moral Development model.
Stage 3: Interpersonal Accord Orientation
Right behaviour is that which conforms with or the expectations of family and friends, or is in their interests. The need to be seen as “good” by others motivates right behaviour.
Stage 4: Law and Order (Social Accord) Orientation
Loyalty to a larger social group (e.g., society, culture, nation) determines perceptions of right and wrong. Laws and norms are seen as accurate reflections of the rightness or wrongness of actions.
Describe what Level 3 of the Cognitive Moral Development model is.
Level 3: Post-conventional Level - Values and norms of others are no longer accepted at face value – they’re re-evaluated based on moral principles.
The actor takes the interests of everyone into account in determining right and wrong.
Describe stage 5 and 6 of Level 3: Post-conventional Level of the Cognitive Moral Development model.
Stage 5: Social Contract Orientation
Tolerance of the values and norms of others is emphasized. Principles such as utility, fairness (i.e., justice), and rights may also be emphasized. Most people don’t get to this stage.
Stage 6: Universal Ethical Principles Orientation
Right action is determined by self-chosen moral principles. Principles are chosen for their rationality, broad applicability, and universality (i.e., they can be applied at all times in all places). Very few people progress to this stage.
List 5 individual differences among people that influence ethical actions.
- Ethical decision making style
- Cognitive moral development
- Locus of control
- Machiavellianism
- Moral Disengagement
Define and explain Locus of control.
An individual’s perception of how much control he or she exerts over events in life. Broken into ‘external’ and ‘internal’. ‘Internals’ think they are in charge of their own destinies. ‘Externals’ think their destinies depend on other people, fate, luck, or other variables they can’t control
‘Internals” tend to do the following:
- Propensity to blow the whistle
- Resistance to social pressure
- Resistance to authority when given orders that cause harm to others
- Lower propensity to cheat
- Increased helping behaviours
- Reduced moral disengagement
Define and explain Moral Disengagement.
When an individual violates their own ethical standards and does not feel guilt.
