Transcript ppt

Attachment-Related Variables Predict Moral Mindset and Moral Action
Darcia Narvaez, Jeff Brooks, Brad Mattan
ABSTRACT
We examined the predictiveness of triune ethics theory (Narvaez, 2008) which postulates that
three neurobiological mindsets underlie moral action: security (bunker: externalizing or
wallflower: internalizing), engagement, and imagination. One’s preferred mindset is postulated
to be influenced by early life experience which shape neurobiological systems represented in
attachment as well as personality (agreeableness, openness). We developed identity
measures of each ethic and, in two studies, tested their relations to variables representing
early life experience, personality and moral action.
INTRODUCTION
Early life experience has longterm effects on stress response (Lupien et al., 2009), social brain
development (e.g., Schore, 2001), openness (Greenspan & Shanker, 2004), empathy,
agreeableness, and conscience (Kochanska, 2002).
Triune Ethics Theory (TET;Narvaez, 2008; 2009) posits that moral functioning depends on
emotional systems shaped during sensitive periods. Three moral orientations reflect evolved
neurobiological propensities:
ETHIC OF SECURITY: Self-protective morality. Emerges from stress reactivity and
fight/flight/freeze responses.
ETHIC OF ENGAGEMENT: Relational presence based in relational hormones. Involves
emotional systems that drive intimacy and compassion;
ETHIC OF IMAGINATION: Reflective abstraction. Source of deliberative reasoning based in
recently evolved parts of brain (e.g, prefrontal cortex);
FIGURE 1. Study 1 Path Model for Integrity with Unstandardized (Standardized) Factor Loadings:
Early life effects predicted agreeableness and openness, moral mindsets. Agreeableness
and moral mindsets predicted integrity.
Agreeab leness
Engagement
Identity
3.65*
(.567)
Tomkins’
Humanism
.095*
(.269)
1
AttachmentRelated
Avoidance
-.093*
(-.360)
Basic
Needs:
Effectance
Early Life
Effects
Integrity
.639*
(.324)
-.037
(-.103)
1
1.97*
(.312)
Openness to
Experience
χ² (14, N = 194 ) = 16.30, p = .30
CFI = .993
RMSEA = .029
METHOD AND MATERIALS
Participants: 194 undergraduates took the questionnaire on computer.
1. Proxy Measures of Early Life Experience
a. Experience in Close Relationships-Revised (ECRR; Fraley, et al., 2000)
b. Basic Needs Effectance: Measures one’s efficaciousness concerning
areas of life identified as basic needs (based on Deci & Ryan; Fiske & Taylor)*
c. Tomkins (1964) Humanism –revised *
2. Big-5 Personality Scales using IPIP (Goldberg et al., 2006)
3. Triune Ethics Identity Scales (Narvaez et al. 2011): Following Aquino and Reed (2002),
words representing each ethic were presented with 8 questions about each set
(e.g., “It would make me feel good to be a person who has these characteristics.”).
5-point Likert-type scale.
Security Identity: Controlled, Tough, Unyielding, Competitive*
Engagement Identity: Caring, Compassionate, Merciful, Cooperative*
Imagination Identity: Reflective, Thoughtful, Inventive, Reasonable*
4. Moral Outcome Variables
a. Action for the Less Fortunate (Moral Action): How often individuals have taken
actions to help the less fortunate.*
b. Integrity Scale (Schlenker, 2008): Measures commitment to ethical principles.
*new measures
Regressions showed that two personality variables (Agreeableness &
Openness) and two moral orientations (Engagement & Imagination)
related to moral outcomes.
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) further investigated relations. Factor
analysis showed attachment-related avoidance, effectance, and
humanism formed a latent construct (we called early life effects).
Early life effects predicted personality and moral orientation. Personality
and moral orientations predicted moral outcomes. Integrity was
predicted by agreeableness and engagement and imagination identities.
Moral Action was predicted by engagement identity and openness.
.396*
(.209)
STUDY 2
Imagination
Identity
.062*
(.531)
METHODS AND MATERIALS
Note. Solid lines represent significant factor/path loadings. *p < .05
Participants were 191 undergraduates. They completed an online survey.
FIGURE 2. Study 1 Path Model for Helping Less Fortunate People with Unstandardized
(Standardized) Factor Loadings: Early life effects predicted agreeableness and openness,
moral mindsets. Openness and engagement identity predicted action for less fortunate.
We measured subtypes of the Security Ethic:
-Bunker (combative and domineering)*
-Wallflower (withdrawn and timid)*
Relationship Questionnaire (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991) was used to
measure attachment style: secure, dismissing, fearful, preoccupied
.049*
(.264)
En gagement
Identity
HYPOTHESES
STUDY 1
.514*
(.269)
.745*
(.624)
Agr eeab leness
1. Personality factors are predicted by proxies for early experience (secure attachment,
humanistic orientation, basic needs effectance predict agreeableness and
openness).
2. Moral mindsets are differentially predicted by proxy measures of early experience (secure
attachment for engagement and imagination, insecure for security).
3. Ethical identities have different attachment, personality and moral action signatures
(engagement ethic predicts moral action and core values enactment; security ethic
predicts value imposition and negatively predicts moral action).
.049*
(.264)
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (Figures 1 and 2)
3.65*
(.567)
Tomkins’
Humanis m
Attachment Related
Avoid an ce
.058
(.143)
1
-.093*
(-.360)
Basic
Needs :
Eff ectan ce
.615*
(.264)
.745*
(.624)
Ear ly Lif e
Eff ects
Action f or
Less
Fortunate
.639*
(.324)
.126*
(.307)
1
1.97*
(.312)
Op enness to
Exp erien ce
χ² (14, N = 194 ) = 12.08, p = .60
CFI = 1.00
RMSEA = .000
-.341
(-.209)
Imagin ation
Identity
.062*
(.531)
Note. Solid lines represent significant factor/path loadings. *p < .05
FIGURE 3. Study 2 Path Model for How Attachment and Values Influence Identity with
Unstandardized (Standardized) Factor Loadings: Bunker mindset was negatively related to
secure attachment and core value lifestyle but positively to value intrusion. Wallflower
mindset was related to fearful attachment and value intrusion. Engagement and
imagination mindsets were related to core value lifestyle.
Combative
Do mineering
1
Bunker
Security
Identity
-.644*
(-.276)
-.405*
(-.195)
Secure
Attachment
.237
(.107)
.492*
(.373)
-.059*
(-.180)
Wallflo wer
Security
Identity
.444*
(.224)
-.032
(-.015)
.935*
(.791)
1
.886*
(.683)
W ithdrawn
Fearful
Attachment
.136
(.058)
.735*
(.298)
Value
Intrus ion
.003
(.010)
-.233*
(-.192)
.159*
(.455)
.008
(.006)
-.135
(.066)
Imaginatio n
Identity
Note. Solid lines represent significant factor/path loadings. *p < .05
.104*
(.341)
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (Figure 3)
Bunker security ID: was related to insecure attachment, value intrusion, and lack
of core value lifestyle (CVL).
Wallflower security ID: related to insecure and fearful attachment and value
intrusion.
Engagement ID: related to secure attachment and CVL.
Imagination ID: related to non-value intrusion and CVL.
GENERAL DISCUSSION
Over both studies, the hypotheses were supported. Morality in college students is
also influenced by early life experience, affecting identity and moral behavior.
The three ethical mindsets (security, engagement, imagination) build on
attachment orientation, relate to personality factors, and predict moral action, and
value implementation. These findings support the notion that security ethic
represent a self-focused mindset due to detrimental early life experience, resulting
in less moral action and behavior.
CONCLUSION
Timid
Engagement
Identity
χ² (18, N = 192) = 10. 85, p = .90
CFI = .1.00
RMSEA = .004
.158*
(.134)
We developed and factored two measures of value implementation:
(a) Core Value Lifestyle (CVL): How much one consciously make decisions
based on core values in certain areas (e.g., friends I cultivate)*
(b) Value Intrusion: How much one thinks that others should embrace one’s
own values (e.g., I want authorities to ensure that others live the way I live.)*
Core Value
Lifestyle
The results provide preliminary evidence that early life experience shapes brain
and body systems for preferred moral functioning as triune ethics theory
postulates. For optimal moral development, good early life experience is needed to
foster the neurobiology of compassion and imagination.
CONTACT: Darcia Narvaez, [email protected]