Mapping the positive path to moral courage: Through belongingness, meaning in life, and moral disengagement
Journal of Happiness and Health,
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2025),
1 October 2025
,
Page 57-65
https://doi.org/10.47602/johah.v5i2.109
Abstract
Numerous studies have explored the factors that influence moral cognition and morally desirable behavior. Yet, that remains doubtful whether the beneficial effects of psychological need satisfaction on individual and social functioning extend to moral processes. To bridge this gap, the current study examined the psychological mechanisms through which a general sense of belongingness may foster morally courageous behavior, focusing on the mediating role of moral disengagement and the moderating role of meaning in life. A cross-sectional design was employed with 290 university students (68% women; Mean age= 22.18), who completed self-report measures assessing belongingness, meaning in life, moral disengagement, and moral courage. Results from a conditional process analysis indicated that moral disengagement had a mediating role in the association between belongingness and moral courage. Specifically, a higher sense of general belongingness was associated with lower levels of moral disengagement, which strengthened moral courage in return. Moreover, this indirect effect varied by levels of perceived meaning in life: the negative association between belongingness and moral disengagement was stronger among individuals with higher levels of meaning. These findings highlight the role of existential meaning in strengthening the moral benefits of social connectedness by reducing tendencies to morally disengage. Practically, the results suggest that interventions aimed at enhancing belonging and life meaning may help cultivate moral courage in academic, organizational, and civic contexts.
- General belongingness
- meaning
- moral disengagement
- moral courage
- prosocial behavior
How to Cite
References
Angelis, S., & Pensini, P. (2023). Honesty‐humility predicts humanitarian prosocial behavior via social connectedness: A parallel mediation examining connectedness to community, nation, humanity, and nature. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 64(6), 810-818. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12932
Arslan, G. & Coşkun, M. (2020). Student subjective wellbeing, school functioning, and psychological adjustment in high school adolescents: A latent variable analysis. Journal of Positive School Psychology, 4(2), 153-164. https://doi.org/10.47602/jpsp.v4i2.231
Arslan, G. (2020). Anlamlı yaşam ölçeǧinin geliştirilmesi: Anlamlı yaşama łlişkin kısa ve etkili bir ölçme aracı. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Eǧitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 56, 227–242.
Bailey, E., & Wojdynski, B. W. (2015). Effects of “meaningful” entertainment on altruistic behavior: Investigating potential mediators. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 59(4), 603–619. https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151.2015.1093484
Baldassarri, D., & Abascal, M. (2020). Diversity and prosocial behavior. Science, 369(6508), 1183-1187. https://doi.org/10. 1126/science.abb2432
Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action. Prentice-Hall.
Bandura, A. (1999). Moral disengagement in the perpetration of inhumanities. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 3(3), 193-209. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr0303_3
Bandura, A., Barbaranelli, C., Caprara, G. V., & Pastorelli, C. (1996). Mechanisms of moral disengagement in the exercise of moral agency. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71(2), 364–374. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022- 3514.71.2.364
Baumeister, R. F., & Leary, M. R. (1995). The need to belong: Desire for interpersonal attachments as a fundamental human motivation. Psychological Bulletin, 117(3), 497–529. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.117.3.497
Baumeister, R. F., Vohs, K. D., Aaker, J. L., & Garbinsky, E. N. (2013). Some key differences between a happy life and a meaningful life. Journal of Positive Psychology, 8(6), 505–516. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2013.830764
Baumert, A., Halmburger, A., & Schmitt, M. (2013). Interventions against norm violations: Dispositional determinants of self-reported and real moral courage. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39(8), 1053–1068. https://doi. org/10.1177/0146167213490032
Baumert, A., Li, M., Sasse, J., & Skitka, L. (2020). Standing up against moral violations: Psychological processes of moral courage. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 88, 103951. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2020.103951
Begen, F. M., & Turner-Cobb, J. M. (2015). Benefits of belonging: Experimental manipulation of social inclusion to enhance psychological and physiological health parameters. Psychology & Health, 30(5), 568-582. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08870446.2014.991734
Berry, D. R., Hoerr, J. P., Cesko, S., Alayoubi, A., Carpio, K., Zirzow, H., ... & Beaver, V. (2020). Does mindfulness training without explicit ethics-based instruction promote prosocial behaviors? A meta-analysis. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 46(8), 1247-1269. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167219900418
Brassai, L., Piko, B. F., & Steger, M. F. (2011). Meaning in life: Is it a protective factor for adolescents' psychological health? International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 18(1), 44–51. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-010-9089-6
Bronstein, P., Fox, B. J., Kamon, J. L., & Knolls, M. L. (2007). Parenting and gender as predictors of moral courage in late adolescence: A longitudinal study. Sex Roles, 56(9), 661–674. https://doi. org/10.1007/s11199-007-9182-8
Cheng, L., Ye, Y., Zhong, Z., Zhang, F., Hu, X., Cui, R., & Chen, Q. (2020). Mediating effects of general self-efficacy on the relationship between the source of meaning in life and prosocial behaviours in vocational college nursing students: A cross-sectional study. Plos one, 15(12), e0243796. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243796
Collie, R. J. (2022). Social-emotional need satisfaction, prosocial motivation, and students’ positive behavioral and well-being outcomes. Social Psychology of Education, 25(2), 399-424. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-022-09691-w
Coşkun, M., & Cingöz-Ulu, B. (2022). Ahlaki cesaret: Belirleyicileri, önemi ve sonuçlarına dair bir derleme çalışması. Nesne, 10(26), 637-654. DOI: 10.7816/nesne-10-26-07
Coşkun, M., Cingöz-Ulu, B., İlgün, Y., & Sari, E. (2024). The role of Moral foundations and Moral Disengagement in Predicting Moral courage: evidence from a non-WEIRD context. Studia Psychologica, 66(2), 93-110. https://doi.org/10.31577/sp.2024.02.893
Cuadrado, E., Tabernero, C., & Steinel, W. (2016). Determinants of prosocial behavior in included versus excluded contexts. Frontiers in Psychology, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.02001
Detert, J. R., Treviño, L. K., & Sweitzer, V. L. (2008). Moral disengagement in ethical decision making: A study of antecedents and outcomes. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(2), 374–391. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.93.2.374
Ding, W., Shao, Y., Sun, B., Xie, R., Li, W., & Wang, X. (2018). How can prosocial behavior be motivated? The different roles of moral judgment, moral elevation, and moral identity among the young Chinese. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 814. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00814
Dungan, J. A., Young, L., & Waytz, A. (2019). The power of moral concerns in predicting whistleblowing decisions. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 85, 103848. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2019.103848
Duru, E. (2015). Genel aidiyet ölçeğinin psikometrik özellikleri: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Türk Psikolojik Danışma ve Rehberlik Dergisi, 5(44), 37–47.
Ellemers, N., Spears, R., & Doosje, B. (2002). Self and social identity. Annual Review of Psychology, 53(1), 161-186. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135228
Feigenberg, L. F., King, M. S., Barr, D. J., & Selman, R. L. (2008). Belonging to and exclusion from the peer group in schools: Influences on adolescents' moral choices. Journal of Moral Education, 37(2), 165-184. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057240802009306
Fernando, M., Akter, S., & Bandara, R. J. (2022). Employee–organisation connectedness and ethical behaviour: the mediating role of moral courage. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 71(7), 2771-2792.
Fu, Y. N., Feng, R., Liu, Q., He, Y., Turel, O., Zhang, S., & He, Q. (2022). Awe and prosocial behavior: The mediating role of presence of meaning in life and the moderating role of perceived social support. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(11), 6466. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19116466
Gezici-Yalçın, M., Şenyurt, A. Y., Gültepe, B., & Coşkun, H. (2016). Ahlâkî uzaklaşma ölçeğinin türkçeye uyarlanması. Kalem Uluslararası Eğitim ve İnsan Bilimleri Dergisi. 6(1), 309-332.
Goering, M., Espinoza, C. N., Mercier, A., Eason, E. K., Johnson, C. W., & Richter, C. G. (2024). Moral identity in relation to emotional well-being: a meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1346732. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1346732
Halmburger, A., Baumert, A., & Schmitt, M. (2016). Everyday heroes: Determinants of moral courage. S. T. Allison, G. R. Goethals, & R. M. Kramer (Eds.), In Handbook of heroism and heroic leadership (pp. 165-184). Routledge.
Haslam, N. (2022). Dehumanization and the lack of social connection. Current Opinion in Psychology, 43, 312-316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.013
Heine, S. J., Proulx, T., & Vohs, K. D. (2006). The meaning maintenance model: On the coherence of social motivations. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10(2), 88-110. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327957pspr1002_1
Henry, K. L., Lovegrove, P. J., Steger, M. F., Chen, P. Y., Cigularov, K. P., & Tomazic, R. G. (2014). The potential role of meaning in life in the relationship between bullying victimization and suicidal ideation. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43, 221-232. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-013-9960-2
Hodge, R. T., Guyer, A. E., Carlo, G., & Hastings, P. D. (2023). Cognitive reappraisal and need to belong predict prosociality in mexican‐origin adolescents. Social Development, 32(2), 633-650. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12651
Jiang, S., Liu, R. D., Ding, Y., Jiang, R., Fu, X., & Hong, W. (2022). Why the victims of bullying are more likely to avoid involvement when witnessing bullying situations: The role of bullying sensitivity and moral disengagement. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 37(5-6), 3062–3083. https://doi. org/10.1177%2F0886260520948142
Karduz, F. F. A., & Özbey, A. (2021). Moral Identity, Altruism and Meaning in Life in Teacher Candidates/Öğretmen Adaylarında Ahlaki Kimlik, Özgecilik Ve Yaşamın Anlamı. e-Uluslararası Eğitim Araştırmaları Dergisi, 12(5), 65-88.
Kipke, R. (2023). Meaning in life as the comprehensive value. Towards a better understanding of the relationship between meaningfulness and morality. The Journal of Value Inquiry, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10790-023-09965-2
Klein, N. (2017). Prosocial behavior increases perceptions of meaning in life. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 12(4), 354-361. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2016.1209541
Kline, P. (2015). A handbook of test construction (psychology revivals): Introduction to psychometric design. Routledge.
Lambert, N. M., Stillman, T. F., Hicks, J. A., Kamble, S., Baumeister, R. F., & Fincham, F. D. (2013). To belong is to matter: Sense of belonging enhances meaning in life. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39(11), 1418-1427. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213499186
Lazar, L., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2022). The benefits of giving: Effects of prosocial behavior on recovery from stress. Psychophysiology, 59(2), e13954. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.13954
Li, Z., Wang, D., Liao, J., & Jin, Z. (2025). The relationship between moral sensitivity and prosocial behavior in college students: the mediating roles of moral disengagement and reciprocity norms. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1508962. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1508962
Lin, L., & Shek, D. T. (2019). The influence of meaning in life on adolescents’ hedonic well-being and risk behaviour: Implications for social work. The British Journal of Social Work, 49(1), 5-24.
Luo, A., & Bussey, K. (2023). Moral disengagement in youth: A meta-analytic review. Developmental Review, 70, 101101. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dr.2023.101101
Maille, V., Gentina, E., & Li, Z. (2021). The influence of social belonging and creativity on the immoral consumption behaviors of new adolescents: A cross-cultural study of 16–24 year olds. Recherche et Applications en Marketing (English Edition), 36(3), 70-99. https://doi.org/10.1177/20515707211001762
Malone, G. P., Pillow, D. R., & Osman, A. (2012). The general belongingness scale (GBS): Assessing achieved belongingness. Personality and Individual Differences, 52(3), 311–316. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2011.10.027
Mitsopoulou, E., & Giovazolias, T. (2015). Personality traits, empathy and bullying behavior: A meta-analytic approach. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 21, 61–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2015.01.007
Osswald S., Frey D., & Streicher B. (2011) Moral Courage. Kals E. & Maes J. (eds), In Justice and conflicts. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-19035-3_24
Paciello, M., Fida, R., Tramontano, C., Cole, E., & Cerniglia, L. (2013). Moral dilemma in adolescence: The role of values, prosocial moral reasoning and moral disengagement in helping decision making. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 10(2), 190-205. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2012.759099
Pfattheicher, S., Nielsen, Y. A., & Thielmann, I. (2022). Prosocial behavior and altruism: A review of concepts and definitions. Current Opinion in Psychology, 44, 124-129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.021
Quarmley, M., Feldman, J., Grossman, H., Clarkson, T., Moyer, A., & Jarcho, J. M. (2022). Testing effects of social rejection on aggressive and prosocial behavior: A meta‐analysis. Aggressive Behavior, 48(6), 529-545. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.22026
Sekerka, L. E., & Marar Yacobian, M. (2017). Understanding and addressing Islamophobia in organizational settings: Leading with moral courage. International Journal of Public Leadership, 13(3), 134-150. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPL-10-2016-0040
Shi, X., Wang, B., He, T., Wu, L., & Zhang, J. (2020). Secure attachments predict prosocial behaviors: A moderated mediation study. PsyCh Journal, 9(5), 597-608. https://doi.org/10.1002/pchj.348
Shin, H. I., & Kim, J. (2020). My computer is more thoughtful than you: Loneliness, anthropomorphism and dehumanization. Current Psychology, 39, 445-453. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9975-7
Shu-Liang, W. U., Qing, Y. A. N. G., Fang, C. H. E. N., Jing, L. I., & Qi, W. U. (2020). The effect of the need to belong on friendship satisfaction: The chain mediating role of empathy and self disclosure. Journal of Psychological Science, 43(3), 659-665.
Sijtsema, J. J., Rambaran, J. A., Caravita, S. C. S., & Gini, G. (2014). Friendship selection and influence in bullying and defending: Effects of moral disengagement. Developmental Psychology, 50(8), 2093–2104. https://doi.org/10.1037/ a0037145
Skitka, L. J. (2011). Moral convictions and moral courage: Common denominators of good and evil. M. Mikulincer ve P. R. Shaver (Eds.), In The social psychology of morality: Exploring the causes of good and evil (pp. 349–365). American Psychological Association.
Thornberg, R., Jungert, T., & Hong, J. S. (2023). The indirect association between moral disengagement and bystander behaviors in school bullying through motivation: Structural equation modelling and mediation analysis. Social Psychology of Education, 26(2), 533-556. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-022-09754-y
Twenge, J. M., Catanese, K. R., & Baumeister, R. F. (2003). Social Exclusion and the Deconstructed State: Time Perception, Meaninglessness, Lethargy, Lack of Emotion, and Self-Awareness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(3), 409–423. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.3.409
Walters, G. D. (2020). Moral disengagement as a mediator of the co-offending–delinquency relationship in serious juvenile offenders. Law and Human Behavior, 44(5), 437-448.
Wang, B., Peng, X., Jiang, M., Zhang, J., & Wu, L. (2023). Boosting attachment security promotes prosociality: The mediating effect of moral disengagement. International Journal of Psychology, 58(6), 614-630. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12940
Wang, L., Huang, N., Li, P., Li, D., Fang, Y., & Chen, Z. (2025). The relationship between moral identity and prosocial behavior in adolescents: the parallel mediating roles of general belongingness and moral elevation. Current Psychology, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-025-07377-y
Waytz, A., & Epley, N. (2012). Social connection enables dehumanization. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 48(1), 70-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2011.07.012
Xie, J., Wen, Z., Shen, J., Tan, Y., Liu, X., Yang, Y., & Zheng, X. (2023). Longitudinal relationship between prosocial behavior and meaning in life of junior high school students: A three‐wave cross‐lagged study. Journal of Adolescence, 95(5), 1017-1032. https://doi.org/10.1002/jad.12172
Zaskodna, H., Simek, J., & Mlcak, Z. (2013). The differences of the personality features and of the emotional empathy for volunteering. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, 2(8), 411.
Zhang, S., Fu, Y. N., Liu, Q., Turel, O., & He, Q. (2022). Psychological capital mediates the influence of meaning in life on prosocial behavior of university students: A longitudinal study. Children and Youth Services Review, 140, 106600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106600
Zhu, J. N., Lam, L. W., Li, Y. N., & Shao, M. Q. (2024). Making our groups better? The roles of moral disengagement and group identification in the learning of pro‐group unethical behaviour. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 97(4), 1550-1571. https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.12528
- Abstract Viewed: 122 times
- PDF Downloaded: 60 times