Jan E. Stets and Michael J. Carter

Abstract

There is a renewed interest in the study of morality in sociology. However, what is noticeably absent is a theory of the self that explains individual variation in moral behavior and emotions. In this research, we use identity theory to explain this variability. In identity theory, actors are self-regulating entities whose goal is to verify their identities. In whatever way individuals see themselves in terms of being a moral person, their moral identity guides behavior and they experience negative emotions when identity verification does not ensue. Furthermore, the identity verification process occurs within situations that have cultural expectations in the form of framing rules and feeling rules regarding how individuals should act and feel. These cultural expectations also influence the degree to which people behave morally. We test these assumptions on a sample of over 350 people. We investigate individuals’ moral identity and how individuals frame situations in moral terms. The findings reveal that both the identity process and the framing of situations as moral are significantly associated with moral action and moral feelings of guilt and shame.

You might be interested in the Press Release that went with this paper:

Ethical lapses in banking and investment - a theory of the self for the sociology of morality