Moral Principles

Evaluating others’ moral principles often prompts us to reflect on our own adherence and alignment with these values. Assessing others for moral convictions prompts us to simultaneously evaluate our own failures to uphold similar principles. This introspective process highlights the importance of moral principles in guiding ethical behavior and decision-making. By examining how others uphold their principles, we gain insight into our own commitment to these values, challenging us to align our actions with our ethical beliefs and strive for personal integrity in situations where we might fall short.

Moral principles develop along with our development, as we grow up, we simultaneously gain moral maturity. However, acting on one’s moral principles is not always easy and can present significant challenges and difficulties.

Kohlberg’s theory suggests upholding moral beliefs may conflict with social environment or situational demands at times. It can thereby frequently cause people to stick to remaining silent on their convictions. Despite this, some people still show the moral courage to speak out. How do people evaluate those who decide to stand up, and how does this standing up affect their self-evaluations?

Principles of Moral Courage: Insights from Leiden University’s Experimental Studies on self-Concept and Ethical Behavior

Leiden University psychologists conducted two experimental studies with 207 and 204 participants, investigating both types of evaluations. Studies reveal that those failing to uphold moral beliefs often receive positive evaluations from those demonstrating moral courage.

Pro-gay participants who wrote an anti-gay essay rated positively someone who, despite speaking up, refused the task. This refusal to engage in the anti-gay essay demonstrated moral courage, contrasting with the participants’ own actions. Participants’ failure to show moral courage harmed their self-concepts, revealing the gap between their values and actions. This situation underscored the impact of moral behavior on self-perception and the significance of aligning actions with personal ethical principles.

The first experiment revealed that pro-gay participants’ positive self-concepts were considerably lowered after writing an anti-gay essay compared to writing a pro-gay essay. This drop in self-concept occurred because the participants had to confront the contradiction between their actions and their values.

The second experiment found that participants’ positive self-concepts were further diminished when confronted with morally courageous behavior. The distress caused by their failure to uphold their own moral beliefs was so significant that it became noticeable to the experimenter.