The sources of moral motivation : studies on empathy, guilt, shame and values

The goals of this study were to analyze the forms of emotional tendencies that are likely to motivate moral behaviors, and to find correlates for these tendencies. In study 1, students narratives of their own guilt or shame experiences were analyzed. The results showed that pure shame was more likely to motivate avoidance than reparation, whereas guilt and combination of guilt and shame were likely to motivate reparation. However, all types of emotion could lead to chronic rumination if the person was not clearly responsible for the situation. In study 2, the relations of empathy with two measures of guilt were examined in a sample of 13- to 16-year-olds (N=113). Empathy was measured using Davis s IRI and guilt by Tangney s TOSCA and Hoffman s semi-projective story completion method that includes two different scenarios, guilt over cheating and guilt over inaction. Empathy correlated more strongly with both measures of guilt than the two measures correlated with each other. Hoffman s guilt over inaction was more strongly associated with empathy measures in girls than in boys, whereas for guilt over cheating the pattern was the opposite. Girls and boys who describe themselves as empathetic may emphasize different aspect of morality and feel guilty in different contexts. In study 3, cultural and gender differences in guilt and shame (TOSCA) and value priorities (the Schwartz Value Survey) were studied in samples of Finnish (N=156) and Peruvian (N=159) adolescents. Gender differences were found to be larger and more stereotypical among the Finns than among the Peruvians. Finnish girls were more prone to guilt and shame than boys were, whereas among the Peruvians there was no gender difference in guilt, and boys were more shame-prone than girls. The results support the view that psychological gender differences are largest individualistic societies. In study 4, the relations of value priorities to guilt, shame and empathy were examined in two samples, one of 15 19-year-old high school students (N = 207), and the other of military conscripts (N = 503). Guilt was, in both samples, positively related to valuing universalism, benevolence, tradition, and conformity, and negatively related to valuing power, hedonism, stimulation, and self-direction. The results for empathy were similar, but the relation to the openness conservation value dimension was weaker. Shame and personal distress were weakly related to values. In sum, shame without guilt and the TOSCA shame scale are tendencies that are unlikely to motivate moral behavior in Finnish cultural context. Guilt is likely to be connected to positive social behaviors, but excessive guilt can cause psychological problems. Moral emotional tendencies are related to culture, cultural conceptions of gender and to individual value priorities.

Moral Professionalism in Interaction : Educators' Relational Moral Voices in Urban Schools

The aim of this study was to investigate educators relational moral voices in urban schools and to listen to what they told about moral professionalism and moral practices in challenging urban schools. Their relational moral voices were investigated through the following three questions: 1. What are the educators moral voices in relation to themselves and other people? 2. What are the educators moral voices in relation to their work and society? 3. What kind of interaction process lies between the educators moral voices and the urban school context? The research data of this study were gathered in four urban schools in Jyväskylä and Helsinki. The research schools were chosen for this study according to the criteria of the international Socrates Comenius project called Leading Schools Successfully in Challenging Urban Context: Strategies for Improvement. This study formed part of this project, which investigated successful urban schools as challenging learning environments in nine European countries and explored the principals success in leadership in particular. The data, which included 37 narratively constructed interviews with four principals and key informants selected by the principals, were gathered in interviews conducted in 2006. In other words, the data comprised three interviews with each of four principals, and interviews with two teachers, two parents, and two pupils from each school. In addition, the school deacon from one school was also interviewed. Furthermore, part of the data from one of the research schools included a medium report of the school deacon s work. This study combined the case study method, the narrative approach and the critical incident technique as the methodological framework. In addition, all of these methods served as practical tools for both analyzing and reporting the data. The educators' narrations and the results of the study appear in the original articles (Hanhimäki & Tirri 2008; Hanhimäki 2008b; Hanhimäki & Tirri 2009; Hanhimäki 2008a). The educators moral voices in relation to themselves and other people emerged through the main themes of moral leadership, the development and evaluation process, moral sensitivity, gender, values, and student well-being. The educators moral voices in relation to their work and society emerged through the main themes of multiprofessional cooperation, families and parental involvement, and moral school culture. The idea of moral interaction connected moral professionalism and the methodological combination of this study, which together emphasized social interaction and the creation of understanding and meaning in this interaction. The main point of this study was to state that the educators moral voices emerged in the interaction between the educators themselves and the urban school context. In this interaction, the educators moral professionalism was constructed and shaped in relation to themselves, other people, their work and society. The loudest relational moral voices heard through the main themes were those of caring, cooperation, respect, commitment, and professionalism. When the results were compared to the codes of ethics which guided these educators moral professional work, the ethical principles and values of the codes were clearly visible in their moral practices. The loudest message from the educators narration could be summarized in the words caring, respect and cooperation: at its best, there is just a human being and a human being with caring, respect and cooperation between them. The results of this study emphasize the need for practical approaches such as case studies and the narrative approach in teacher education to encourage educators to become moral professionals capable of meeting the needs of people of varied backgrounds. In addition, opportunities for moral, religious and spiritual education should be noticed and utilized in the plural interaction of urban schools when nurturing pupils and creating a moral school culture. Furthermore, multiprofessional cooperation and parents as the school s primary cooperation partner are needed to carry out the shared duty of moral education in urban schools. Keywords: moral professionalism, educator, relational moral voice, interaction, urban school

Moral Education in the Japanese Primary School Curricular Revision at the Turn of the Twenty-first Century: Aiming at a Rich and Beautiful Kokoro

This study examines values education in Japanese schools at the beginning of the millennium. The topic was approached by asking the following three questions concerning the curricular background, the morality conveyed through textbooks and the characterization of moral education from a comparative viewpoint: 1) What role did moral education play in the curriculum revision which was initiated in 1998 and implemented in 2002? 2) What kinds of moral responsibilities and moral autonomy do the moral texts develop? 3) What does Japanese moral education look like in terms of the comparative framework? The research was based on curriculum research. Its primary empirical data consisted of the national curriculum guidelines for primary school, which were taken into use in 2002, and moral texts, Kokoro no nôto, published by the Ministry of Education in the same context. Since moral education was approached in the education reform context, the secondary research material involved some key documents of the revision process from the mid-1990s to 2003. The research material was collected during three fieldwork periods in Japan (in 2002, 2003 and 2005). The text-analysis was conducted as a theory-dependent qualitative content analysis. Japanese moral education was analyzed as a product of its own cultural tradition and societal answer to the current educational challenges. In order to understand better its character, secular moral education was reflected upon from a comparative viewpoint. The theory chosen for the comparative framework, the value realistic theory of education, represented the European rational education tradition as well as the Christian tradition of values education. Moral education, which was the most important school subject at the beginning of modern school, was eliminated from the curriculum for political reasons in a school reform after the Second World War, but has gradually regained a stronger position since then. It was reinforced particularly at the turn of millennium, when a curriculum revision attempted to respond to educational and learning problems by emphasizing qualitative and value aspects. Although the number of moral lessons and their status as a non-official-subject remained unchanged, the Ministry of Education made efforts to improve moral education by new curricular emphases, new teaching material and additional in-service training possibilities for teachers. The content of the moral texts was summarized in terms of moral responsibility in four moral areas (intrapersonal, interpersonal, natural-supranatural and societal) as follows: 1) continuous self-development, 2) caring for others, 3) awe of life and forces beyond human power, and 4) societal contribution. There was a social-societal and emotional emphasis in what was taught. Moral autonomy, which was studied from the perspectives of rational, affective and individuality development, stressed independence in action through self-discipline and responsibility more than rational self-direction. Japanese moral education can be characterized as the education of kokoro (heart) and the development of character, which arises from virtue ethics. It aims to overcome egoistic individualism by reciprocal and interdependent moral responsibility based on responsible interconnectedness.

El tertium narrativo de los Evangelios : paradigma de un lenguaje nuevo desde la óptica ricoeuriana de Adolphe Gesché

Introducción: En las obras de Adolphe Gesché (1928-2003) aparecen temáticas que echan sus raíces en la teología dogmática y en la fundamental. Realiza su camino académico de licenciatura en filosofía y letras en la Universidad Católica de Lovaina, donde también, posteriormente, se licencia y doctora en teología. Más tarde realiza su magíster con una tesis sobre patrología. Si bien nunca faltarán en su madurez bibliográfica estos recursos de la primera hora, enfocará sus investigaciones y desarrollos hacia horizontes más dogmáticos. Estos últimos serán tratados desde abordajes múltiples, como la moral, la antropología, la psicología, filosofía y estética, la literatura y la teología comparada. Es precisamente en esta nota o personalidad de su “teologizar desde el encuentro” donde radicará la disertación presente, subrayando la riqueza de variados afluentes y detectando esas pistas de enlaces o convergencias que abren la posibilidad de la aplicación interdisciplinaria y del diálogo entre esos campos. Cabe destacar en Gesché el sustrato de diálogo con otras áreas humanísticas debido a sus estudios en humanidades y en filosofía y letras realizados en la Facultad de Saint Louis, Bruselas, previos a su ordenación sacerdotal. Gesché se esfuerza en sus obras por proveerse de un método interno y, al mismo tiempo, de una propuesta metodológica para futuras investigaciones. Lo confirmará el teólogo mismo al decir que “este recorrido constituye una experiencia que deseo realizar, tanto más que, a mi juicio, resulta decisiva para nuestra postmodernidad”. Se utilizará como material fuente su obra teológica magna sistematizada en siete tomos que llevan por título “Dios para pensar”, pero esto no impedirá recurrir a textos de algunas otras obras de su autoría y a su Fichero temático personal. La disertación apuntará al estudio de la importancia que Gesché confiere a la dimensión narrada del evangelio como principal fuente de luz sobre la persona e identidad de Jesucristo, constituyéndose en un modelo de relato que configura la identidad de aquel que narra, ejerciendo, también, una eficacia para aquel que lo lee. Texto, sujeto y lector serán, entonces, los ejes de su estudio y, también, la estructura de la disertación. Es el evangelio, en su esencia “narrado”, el que confiere identidad a la persona de Jesucristo. Esta dimensión narrativa del texto evangélico supera dos polos generados en la tradición teológica apoyados uno en la historia y el otro en el dogma. Ésta será la principal tesis sostenida por el teólogo y planteará el advenimiento de un tercero para resolver el ahogo de los encierros narcisistas...

Teología, 1966, Tomo IV/1 nº 8 (número completo)

La Comunión de vida con Dios en la Iglesia (Capítulos V, VII y VIII) / Rafael A. Tello -- La Jerarquía: una potestad al servicio de la Iglesia (Capítulo III) / Carmelo J. Giaquinta -- El Laicado en la Iglesia (capítulo IV) / Pedro Geltman -- La vida religiosa en la Constitución “Lumen Gentium” (Capítulo VI) / Domingo Basso -- Crónica de la Facultad (enero-marzo 1966) -- Bibliografía

Sapientia, 1997, Vol. LII, nº 201 (número completo)

Contenido: El aristotelismo y el tomismo frente al egoísmo psicológico / María L. Lukac de Stier – El deseo natural de ver a Dios en la Summa contra Gentiles / Guillermo Jorge Cambiasso – La creación como encuentro del ser y de la nada en la teología del maestro Eckhart de Hochheim O.P. (1260-1327) / Brian J. Farrelly – Malebranche y el libertinage érudit / Francisco Leocata – The problem of person and Jean Mouroux / John M. McDermott ; Glenn J. Comandini – Los fundamentos de la Bioética de H. Tristram Engelhardt / Jorge Martínez Barrera – Cuando las contradictorias son verdaderas / Marisa Villalba de Tablón – Examen del escepticismo moral y del relativismo moral / Camilo Tale – Saint Thomas et le mystère de la création : une réponse aux interrogations de l’homme d’aujourd’hui / Marie-Dominique Philippe – La finalidad de la naturaleza humana : alcance y actualidad de la cuestión / Beatriz Eugenia Reyes Oribe – La providencia y el gobierno del mundo / Alberto Caturelli – Saint Thomas et le problème de la possibilité d’un univers créé éternel / Alain-Marie de Lassus – La causalidad material de los elementos en la generación de los cuerpos mixtos / Mario Enrique Sacchi -- Bibliografía

La teología ante la física moderna : cuestiones fundamentales para un diálogo posible : 2ª parte: la teología de la creación ante la cosmología científica

Resumen: El descubrimiento de la verdadera naturaleza evolutiva y mutable de este universo en que vivimos ha dado origen a la moderna cosmología científica, que con sus modelos del nacimiento y evolución del cosmos plantea estimulantes cuestiones teológicas como la relación entre creación e inicio del universo, la acción divina en el mundo o la teleología y finalidad última de la Creación.

La cuestión de los fundamentos en la ética de Lonergan

Resumen: En este artículo se explica cómo a partir del método trascendental de Lonergan surge una comprensión de la ética cómo ética existencial, la cual nos invita a dejar a un lado las categorías metafísicas-abstractas y reflexionar éticamente usando categorías que surjan de los actos de nuestra conciencia. La conciencia moral se presenta distintiva en cuanto a la decisión, inclusiva en cuanto que integra los niveles del entender y del juzgar y elevada en cuanto que está abierta a la posibilidad de una integración superior, puesto que la noción trascendental de valor puede ser enriquecida intrínsecamente con la experiencia religiosa de estar enamorado de un modo irrestricto.La explicitación de los fundamentos a partir del método trascendental permite tener en cuenta la realidad del hombre como ser histórico en devenir e integra la experiencia moral y religiosa a la comprensión del actuar ético. De este modo la reflexión ética surge a partir de la historia vividaen la cual se manifiesta el hacerse a sí mismo de los sujetos y la auto-constitución de lavida moral de una comunidad o de un pueblo.

Teología, 2005, Tomo XLII nº 088 (número completo)

Nota del Director. Nuestra brújula segura -- La crisis de los cuarenta / María Josefina Llach -- Hacia una nueva imaginación. Sobre el laicado y las mujeres en la Iglesia / Virginia R. Azcuy -- Logros y tareas a 40 años de la promulgación de la Constitución Dogmática sobre la Divina Revelación / Claudia Mendoza -- La Constitución Pastoral Gaudium et Spes como “acontecimiento”. Un ingreso desde las “redes” / Marcelo González -- De una cultura ritual a una cultura secular. Críticas a la reforma litúrgica conciliar / Osvaldo Santagada -- El misterio de la Iglesia, pueblo de Dios en comunión / José Carlos Caamaño -- El movimiento ecuménico a 40 años del Concilio Vaticano II / Jorge A. Scampini -- Una articulación del binomio Iglesia universal/ Iglesia particular-local / Antonio Fidalgo -- Nuestra facultad de teología en perspectiva histórica: desde su origen (1915) y hacia su centenario (2015) / Carlos M. Galli -- En torno al misterio de Dios. El pensamiento de Ricardo Ferrara / Carlos A. Castro -- Notas Bibliográficas -- Instrucciones para los colaboradores

Teología, 1981, Tomo XVIII nº 037 (número completo)

La Virgen María en el Nuevo Testamento. Aspectos del Evangelio de san Lucas / Luis Heriberto Rivas -- El lugar de María en el discurso cristológico de san Anselmo de Canterbury / Eduardo Briancesco -- Notas sobre el II Concilio Provincial de Lima (1582-1583). Segunda parte: El laicado español / Armando Pedro Ferreccio -- Resonancias marianas en los catecismos hispanoamericanos del siglo XVI / Juan Guillermo Durán -- Culto divino y normas litúrgicas en el III Concilio Provincial de Lima (1582-1583) / Fernando María Bargalló -- El fresco de Daniel en la fosa de los leones en la “capella greca” / Eugenio Guasta -- San Benito y la teología de la vida religiosa / Eduardo Ghiotto -- Encuentro de teología mariana: Documento final -- Notas bibliográficas -- Libros recibidos

Teología, 1996, Tomo XXXIII nº 067 (número completo)

Presentación / Luis H. Rivas -- El hombre y su lugar en el mundo en la obra de San Gregorio de Nisa / Ma. Mercedes Bergadá -- La mutabilidad del hombre y la proléptica divina / Ramón Cornavaca -- La unidad dinámica del Cósmos en San Máximo el Confesor / Pablo Argárate -- Sentido y finalidad de la realidad creada. Perspectiva agustiniana / Francisco Weismann -- Relación Iglesia – Estado: El caso de Pablo de Samosata en la Historia Eclesiástica de Eusebio de Cesarea / Edgardo M. Morales -- El hombre: Un ser libre [En San Gregorio de Nisa] / Luis Glinka -- Notas bibliográficas

Los actos intrínsecamente malos en Veritatis Splendor

Resumen: El autor se propone recordar el sentido verdadero de la doctrina de los actos intrínsecamente malos y el marco conceptual desde el que es interpretada. Para precisar el lugar fundamental de la perspectiva desde la cual se reflexiona acerca del acto moral considera las implicancias de la así llamada “perspectiva de la tercera persona” y del proporcionalismo, que asumen un punto de vista exterior al acto mismo, y la reafirmación que VS hace de dicha doctrina, en la perspectiva más propia para la apreciación de los actos humanos desde el punto de vista moral: la perspectiva de la persona que actúa, denominada “perspectiva de la primera persona”, que pone de relieve el carácter intencional de las acciones humanas. En ese marco, se presenta al objeto moral en referencia al orden de la razón o al bien global de la persona humana y, en él, la aprehensión que hace la razón práctica de la “ordenabilidad” de los actos humanos al bien y al fin último que es Dios, la intencionalidad y autorreferencialidad propia de los actos del libre obrar humano, y el concepto personalista y relacional de acto intrínsecamente malo.

Investigando la teología en nuestra Argentina

Itinerarios de investigación del grupo de estudio sobre La teología en la Argentina y diversas publicaciones de sus miembros en el trienio 2010-2012.