The effects of moral self regulation, guilt and shame, moral identity on moral courage and helping behaviors

In this study, moral courage and helping, which are conceptually differentiated from each other, were empirically compared and the factors affecting both behaviors were investigated. Moral courage is reaction against injustice despite negative social risks. Helping is the behavior to relieve others' burden or to prevent possible difficulties regardless of any obligation. In this research, moral courage was assumed to be activated through moral loss midset, which is a prevention focused self-regulation strategy, whereas heping is assumed to be activated through moral gain mindset, which is a promotion focused self-regulation strategy. Thus, hypotheses were formulated in accordance with these assumptions (deductive approach), and to test these hypotheses two experiments were conducted. In line with the findings of the first experiment, in the second study it was decided to apply mixed-method design (sequential explanatory design). Thus, the quantitative findings of second experiment were mixed with qualitative data (inductive approach) by following an explanatory way. In the first experiment 83 (Nwoman = 63, Nman = 20) and in the second experiment 157 (Nwoman = 112, Nman = 45) university students were reached. In the qualitative study conducted after the second experiment, 18 participants (Nwoman = 10, Nman = 8) were included. These participants were chosen from university students who have already participated in the second experiment. In both quantitative studies (two experiments), the effects of prevention versus promotion focused self-regulation strategies on moral courage and helping were examined by application of statistical techniques. At the same time, the relationships between guilt, shame, and moral identity with moral courage and helping were inquired by statistical analysis techniques. In the qualitative research, the narrations of the participants were subjected to thematic analysis with an inductive approach. At the last stage, quantitative and qualitative data were synthesized. In the quantitavive studies, it was found that moral loss mindset (prevention focused self-regulation) had a significant effect on moral courage. In addition, according to quantitative findings both moral courage and helping have positive and significant relationships with guilt. Moreover, qualitative data showed that emotional cost is prominent in moral courage, whereas emotional gain is prominent in helping. Besides, analysis of qualitative data revealed that communality, which was not examined in quantitative studies, is important theme yielding both moral courage and helping. All findings were discussed in the light of the relevant literature.