Constructing a Situational Scale of Moral Disengagement Based on Bandura’s Theory

Abstract

This study aims to develop an attitudinal scale to measure moral disengagement among middle school female students, based on the social cognitive learning theory proposed by Albert Bandura, which conceptualizes moral disengagement as a set of cognitive mechanisms that deactivate an individual’s moral self-regulation.To achieve the research objective, the two researchers constructed a psychological scale based on real-life situations reflecting the mechanisms of moral disengagement identified by Bandura, including: moral justification, displacement of responsibility, distortion of consequences, and victim blaming. The scale consisted of (24) situations representing realistic scenarios encountered by students in school and social environments.The scale was administered to a sample of (400) middle school female students in Al-Muqdadiyah District. Appropriate statistical methods were employed to verify the psychometric properties of the scale, such as validity and reliability, ensuring its suitability for measurement.The results indicated that the scale possesses good psychometric properties. Descriptive findings also revealed varying levels of moral disengagement among the sample, with a noticeable tendency among some students to justify unethical behaviors without experiencing guilt or a sense of responsibility.Based on these findings, the researchers recommended the implementation of counseling programs within the school environment aimed at enhancing moral thinking and reducing levels of moral disengagement. This can be achieved through developing cognitive restructuring skills, strengthening self-regulation, and fostering a sense of moral responsibility. The study also suggested conducting future research on larger samples and using multiple measurement tools to improve the accuracy and generalizability of the results.