Search Results (84)

This article analyzes the work of Fr. Elias Friedman, whose legacy of theological work on Jewish identity and Jewish conversion to Catholicism serves as the foundation of the Association of Hebrew Catholics, of which he is the founder. Friedman frames his work as a sensitive approach to Jewish identity and Catholic faith, but as this paper demonstrates, his work reveals a reiteration of some of the most entrenched and historically devastating tropes of Christian anti-Judaism, as well as racial antisemitism. This article presents three main arguments. First, it demonstrates that Friedman’s work evidences a theological anti-Judaism characteristic of Catholicism prior to the Second Vatican Council, which he maintained firmly even after the theological revision of Vatican II rejected such views; and furthermore, that his work also expresses an antisemitism that reflects the modern racial antisemitism adopted by the Nazi regime. Second, this article examines the positive reception of Friedman’s work, as evidenced not only in the revered position he holds within the Association for Hebrew Catholics, but also by the nihil obstat and imprimatur on both of Friedman’s monographs, that is, the official stamp of ecclesiastical approval within the Catholic Church, which declares that the work is “free of doctrinal and moral error.” It proposes that these factors evidence the uncritical reception of his work not only within the Association of Hebrew Catholics, but also on behalf of the institutional Catholic Church. Third, it raises the question of the extent to which Friedman’s identity as a Jewish convert to Catholicism is relevant in the analysis and reception of his work. It argues that his Jewish identity makes his concoction of religious anti-Judaism and racial antisemitism particularly potent, rendering anodyne even the most virulently antisemitic of his statements. Full article

The number of people requiring palliative care is increasing. This can result in moral and ethical conflicts that may lead to psychological distress and moral injury. (MI). Solutions are needed to counteract career abandonment—supervision (SV) could be one solution. This study examines the extent to which palliative care nurses link MI to their everyday experiences and whether SV can contribute to the identification and prevention of moral distress and MI. In addition, factors that influence the implementation of, participation in, and perception of SV are analyzed. A qualitative study design was chosen for the investigation, consisting of guided interviews, narrative-generating questions with seven participants working in palliative care, and participant observation with audio recording during two supervisions of two palliative care teams with 16 participants in total. The data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. The results show differences in workload between acute and palliative care wards. Time pressure and hierarchical structures promote distress and MI and are particularly evident on acute wards. The interviewees described specific experiences of MI. In addition, factors were identified that influence participation in SV. The analysis of SV showed that workload is a key cause of moral distress and can have an impact on health. SV can be used for sensitization and exchange. Implementation and acceptance of SV depend on individual and structural factors. In palliative care, signs of moral distress are present and are specifically addressed in SV, which means that SV can be a tool for dealing with stressful situations. Full article

Communication about moral decision-making involves complex emotional and cognitive processes, especially in critical situations. This study adopted a hyperscanning paradigm to explore neural convergence during moral negotiation. Twenty-six healthy young adults (mean age = 23.59 years; 16 women, 10 men), with no neurological or psychiatric conditions, were paired into 13 same-gender dyads at the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Each dyad discussed a medical moral dilemma while their electrophysiological (EEG) activity was simultaneously recorded. Participants were first categorized according to their Dominant Reasoning Profile (DRP) (cognitive or affective), and subsequently convergence in DRP within the dyads was established. EEG band dissimilarities within each dyad were analyzed across frontal, temporo-central, and parieto-occipital regions. The results revealed significantly greater dissimilarity in frontal delta-band activity compared to parieto-occipital areas, regardless of the dyad’s DRP. Such results might suggest different emotional and motivational reactions between the two individuals, reflecting a broader gap in how the moral decision-making process was interpreted and internalized by each member, despite their DRP. The EEG hyperscanning paradigm proves useful in the study and understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in social interaction about morally sensitive decisions and provides novel insights into dyadic brain dynamics. Full article

In informal economic contexts, migrant entrepreneurs have been extolled as highly resilient and adaptable. This study critically investigates the adverse psychological foundations inherent in such enterprises, focusing on how dark triad personality traits emerge in the leadership orientations of marginal migrant entrepreneurs. Following a qualitative ethnographic approach, this research engaged 10–15 migrant employees through participant observation, field notes, and semi-structured interviews in an informal economic context. Thematic analysis revealed five dominant patterns: narcissistic leadership with entitlement and emotional disrespect; Machiavellian behavior of manipulation and deception; psychopathic detachment in emotional callousness; absence of light triad actions such as empathy, humility, and selflessness; and moral disengagement through rationalizations such as “everyone does it” or system blame. Migrant business owners prefer to rationalize their exploitative acts as being necessary for economic survival, thus legitimizing immoral conduct and suppressing moral self-regulation. The findings indicate that marginality not only drives entrepreneurial innovation, but also has the potential to create exploitative inclinations that are institutionally and morally unchecked. Solving this issue requires not only mere psychological awareness, but also systematic reforms that foster ethical robustness and emotional sensitivity. This study ultimately asserts the need to reframe migrant entrepreneurship discourse, including both ethical and psychological accountability. Full article

This inquiry articulates a conceptually cohesive framework to explore the interplay between ethical leadership–affective commitment, particularly in settings characterized by socio-environmental volatility. Central to the analysis is the examination of how ethical climate functions as a psychological conduit and how psychological empowerment modulates this pathway. Empirical validation was carried out with a sample of 448 employees (175 women, 273 men) from Colombia’s electricity sector, a context where institutional fragility elevates the salience of ethical practices. The study employed structural equation modeling to test the model’s robustness. Results underscore that ethical leadership cultivates a benevolent ethical climate, which in turn reinforces affective commitment. Importantly, this sequence is not fixed but is contingent upon psychological empowerment. The influence of ethical leadership on ethical climate and especially on affective commitment is amplified when empowerment is high; likewise, the ethical climate–affective commitment link becomes more salient under elevated empowerment conditions. These findings highlight the influence of ethical dynamics in organizations. Beyond model validation, this research contributes to broader conversations on social sustainability. Ethical leadership is shown to foster organizational climates rooted in fairness, stakeholder sensitivity, and moral coherence—factors essential for long-term institutional legitimacy. In environments such as Colombia’s electricity industry, where governance infrastructures are evolving, such leadership emerges as a necessary condition for rebuilding trust and promoting shared ethical standards. Accordingly, this study advocates for the systematic cultivation of ethical leadership as a means to enhance organizational loyalty and public credibility. The theoretical model presented here offers fertile ground for cross-cultural replication and further inquiry across industries in emerging economies. Full article

Background: Caregivers in urban settings often face unique challenges in providing nurturing care. This qualitative study explores the complex realities of caregiving among mothers and grandmothers in urban poor neighbourhoods of Bangalore, South India. Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, this is the first study in urban India that examines how caregivers’ perceptions, along with individual and systemic factors, shape caregiving practices in this setting. Methods: In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with 22 mothers and grandmothers of 4–6-year-old children from the urban MAASTHI cohort in Bangalore, South India. Topic guides were developed, pre-tested, and piloted. IDIs were conducted in local languages (Kannada and Hindi). Transcripts were coded using NVivo 12 plus and analyzed via a thematic analysis approach using Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems framework to organize themes. Findings: At the microsystem level, caregivers engaged with children through storytelling and play, though competing demands like household chores often constrained these interactions. Disciplining techniques varied, and the absence of fathers placed additional burdens on mothers. The mesosystem revealed the critical role of extended family in providing support. At the exosystem level, unsafe neighbourhoods limited children’s opportunities for outdoor play. The macrosystem highlighted how religious values provided moral frameworks for parenting and the presence of stigma against single mothers. The chronosystem explored declining social support over time and challenges. Conclusions: These findings emphasize that caregiving inequities are not isolated but structurally embedded, demanding interventions that address sociocultural, economic, and spatial barriers to equitable support for caregivers, particularly those in disadvantaged settings. It calls for context-sensitive interventions, including community-based parenting programmes including maternal well-being, strengthening community and public support systems, improving safe play spaces, and longitudinal research. By amplifying marginalized caregivers’ voices, this research highlights the need for policies that support nurturing care in low-resource settings to break intergenerational cycles of disadvantage. Full article

This study examines the relationship between perceived stress and society-wide moral judgment by integrating two influential frameworks: the neo-Kohlbergian approach and the CNI model of utilitarian-deontological decision-making. The neo-Kohlbergian approach to moral judgment proposes three moral schemas: (1) Personal Interest (PI), where decisions are self-focused; (2) Maintaining Norms (MN), which emphasizes adherence to social rules and norms; and (3) Postconventional (PC), where universal ethical principles are prioritized. The CNI model for Utilitarian-Deontological judgment features three psychological processes in decision-making: Sensitivity to Consequence, Sensitivity to Norm, and Inaction Preference. A survey study was conducted to measure perceived stress, neo-Kohlbergian moral judgment (using the behavioral Defining Issues Test [DIT]), and the psychological processes underlying utilitarian-deontological decision-making (CNI). The results indicate that higher perceived stress is linked to greater PI schema endorsement, reduced Norm Sensitivity, and increased Consequence Sensitivity. Furthermore, the PI schema mediated the relationship between perceived stress and Norm Sensitivity. These findings provide insights into how stress shapes moral reasoning and decision-making, with implications for psychological and ethical studies. Full article

Amid accelerating population aging and the rapid evolution of digital technologies, the digital transformation of rural elderly care services has become a pivotal strategy for restructuring the rural elderly care system. This study identified the local government, rural elderly care service centers, and the elderly population as the principal stakeholders, and developed a tripartite evolutionary game-theory model to examine the dynamic strategic interactions among these actors under the influence of digital technologies. The model further investigated the evolutionary trajectories and equilibrium conditions of their behavioral strategies. Numerical simulations conducted via MATLAB were employed to validate and visualize the model outcomes. The findings revealed the following. (1) The evolutionary equilibrium of digital elderly care service development in rural areas is jointly determined by the strategic choices of the three parties, with its stability shaped by a complex interplay of cost structures, incentive mechanisms, and utility outcomes. (2) Cost factors exhibit heterogeneous effects across stakeholders. Specifically, excessive regulatory costs diminish the performance incentives of local governments, digital infrastructure and operational expenditures influence service centers’ capacity for precision-oriented service delivery, and the participation of the elderly is constrained by affordability thresholds. (3) Local government behavior demonstrates a pronounced sensitivity to incentives. In particular, rewards and social reputation conferred by higher-level governmental bodies exert a significantly stronger influence than punitive measures. (4) Government subsidies for digital transformation enhance cross-stakeholder synergy through dual transmission channels. Nonetheless, excessive subsidies may escalate fiscal risk, while moderately calibrated penalty mechanisms effectively curb moral hazard within service centers. This study advances theoretical understanding of multi-stakeholder coordination in the context of digitally enabled rural elderly care and provides actionable insights for policymakers aiming to formulate interest-aligned strategies and construct resilient, intelligent governance systems for elderly care. Full article

This article describes the challenges and possibilities of implementing social justice language education in a difficult context in the Global South. Six Argentinian English language university teachers and tutors developed and implemented a social justice project during 2017–2018 in a nongovernmental organisation (NGO) in Argentina. The project aimed at challenging the ‘conditions of possibility’ of underserved children aged 8–12 who attended the NGO for school support and extra-curricular activities. Data comprise reflection logs written by the university teachers and tutors during project implementation and a survey applied after project completion. Qualitative data analysis reveals two specific difficulties involved in enacting social justice language education locally, namely a disconnection between theory and practice and difficulty in grasping local conditions and developing sensitivity to the context. The analysis also led to the identification of two areas with potential to impact positively on social justice language education: an experientially grounded project and teachers’ self-perception as moral agents. Implications for social justice teacher education are discussed. Full article

Despite the importance of criminogenic thinking in addressing criminal behavior, validated instruments to measure these cognitions in Portuguese forensic settings are scarce. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to explore the psychometric properties of the Criminogenic Cognitions Scale (CCS) in a sample of 364 Portuguese incarcerated males (M_age = 37.88, SD = 10.88). An exploratory factor analysis was conducted, indicating a 15-item, two-factor structure (KMO = 0.82; Bartlett’s test, χ² = 1841.2, df = 105, p < 0.001). The CCS dimensions, comprising Short-Term Orientation and Responsibility Evasion and Authority Resistance, demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties, including convergent validity with antisocial traits, moral disengagement, and self-control dimensions, as well as internal consistency (omega coefficient = 0.60–0.77; composite reliability = 74–91; coefficient H = 89–95), and sensitivity of items. The CCS is a valuable tool within prison settings for assessing criminogenic thinking patterns, supporting risk assessment, the development of targeted rehabilitation programs, and monitoring cognitive changes over time to reduce recidivism, thereby promoting inmates’ safer reintegration into society. Overall, our findings suggest the CCS is a promising tool for assessing criminogenic cognitions in the forensic Portuguese population. Full article

This study explores how consumers in developed and developing countries perceive sustainable food consumption and how these perceptions are shaped by local contexts. Using the theory of social representations, which frames sustainability as a system of values, ideas, and practices, we conducted a mixed-methods analysis of data from online focus groups in ten countries. The results reveal significant differences between sustainability frontrunners in developed countries and consumers in developing countries. Consumers in developed countries focus on immanent representations, linking sustainability to concrete practices such as recycling, buying organic products, and brand awareness. In contrast, consumers in developing countries adopt more transcendent views, emphasizing moral responsibility, tradition, and collective well-being, and often expecting government regulation to drive change. Barriers such as high cost, lack of knowledge, and skepticism reflect underlying socio-economic inequalities, particularly in developing contexts. The study highlights how global sustainability norms interact with local realities, revealing mismatches that limit the effectiveness of universal approaches. These findings underscore the need for context-sensitive policies and strategies that address local barriers while remaining consistent with global sustainability goals. More broadly, this research underscores the necessity of culturally tailored approaches to promote equitable and inclusive socio-ecological transformations. Full article

The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in embryo selection during in vitro fertilization presents distinct ethical and societal challenges compared to the general implementation of AI in healthcare. This narrative review examines ethical perspectives and potential societal implications of implementing AI-driven embryo selection. The literature reveals that some authors perceive AI as an extension of a technocratic paradigm that commodifies embryos, considering that any embryo selection methods undermine the dignity of human life. Others, instead, contend that prioritizing embryos with the highest viability is morally permissible while cautioning against discarding embryos based solely on unproven AI assessments. The reviewed literature identified further potential ethical concerns associated with this technique, including possible bias in the selection criteria, lack of transparency in black-box algorithms, risks of “machine paternalism” replacing human judgment, privacy issues with sensitive fertility data, equity of access, and challenges in maintaining human-centered care. These findings, along with the results of the only randomized controlled trial available, suggest that the introduction of AI-driven embryo selection in clinical practice is not currently scientifically and ethically justified. Implementing and deploying ethical and responsible AI in embryo selection would be feasible only if the ethical and societal concerns raised are adequately addressed. Full article

Veterinarians face ethical challenges during their careers, but despite evidence of work-related stress and burnout in veterinarians, moral distress has been poorly investigated. Using an online survey, professional experience, moral distress, and burnout were investigated in 704 Italian veterinarians caring for companion animals, farm animals, or both. The reliability of the moral distress questionnaire was optimal, and Factor analysis identified four factors for moral distress: I. Conflict with owner/farmer; II. Relationships with colleagues/superiors; III. Legal context/unsupportive Professional Institutions; IV. Unshared requests for euthanasia. Veterinarians reported rather low levels of moral distress but high levels of work-related stress/anxiety and a decline in empathy over time, mainly toward owners/farmers. More than 50% of veterinarians reported medium/high levels of burnout, and client-related burnout was significantly higher than animal-related burnout. Levels of work-related stress, moral distress, and burnout were higher in women, and experience exerted a protective effect. Moral distress was positively correlated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and, to a lesser extent, lower professional fulfillment. The relatively low level of moral distress that emerged in the study needs further investigation, especially considering the high levels of work-related stress and anxiety reported by veterinarians. Women’s greater sensitivity to moral distress and burnout should not be overlooked given the progressive feminization of the veterinary profession worldwide. Full article

Background/Objectives: Moral hazard represents a significant challenge in healthcare systems globally, reflecting the tendency of insured individuals to over-utilize medical services when shielded from the full costs of care. Methods: This paper investigates the dynamics and implications of moral hazard within the Romanian public hospital sector, offering practical recommendations for healthcare policymakers to mitigate the financial risks associated with excessive healthcare utilization and ensure long-term sustainability. To achieve the objectives of this study, a quantitative research approach utilizing vignettes was employed. Vignettes allow for the simulation of real-world decision-making under conditions of insurance coverage, capturing nuanced behaviors that traditional surveys may overlook. Results: The study examined patient behaviors in the context of moral hazard in public hospitals in Romania, employing a quantitative approach based on vignettes. A total of 303 valid responses were collected. The findings indicate a significant tendency among insured patients, both publicly and privately insured, to opt for more expensive treatments compared to uninsured patients, who preferred more affordable options such as medication or physiotherapy. In the case of treatments for severe conditions, insured patients frequently chose combinations of higher-cost therapies, while uninsured individuals either delayed treatment or opted for less expensive alternatives. These results highlight the impact of moral hazard, driven by a reduced sensitivity to costs in the presence of insurance, and underscore the need for cost-sharing policies to mitigate the overutilization of medical resources. Conclusions: This paper uniquely contributes to the understanding of moral hazard by integrating insights from both Romanian public hospitals and international case studies, offering practical policy recommendations for mitigating the financial risks associated with excessive healthcare utilization. Full article

This article addresses the inherently relational nature of musical agency, drawing upon interdisciplinary research. It argues that music does not exist in isolation but within social and emotional contexts shaped by a network of relationships among musicians. These interactions create a collaborative space that transcends mere technical execution, fostering a collective experience enriched by shared sensitivity and emotional engagement. Consequently, musical practice, whether compositional or performative, entails a moral responsibility, particularly challenging the perspectives of Levinas; Bauman; and Wilde, who traditionally separated art from ethics. As outlined in Nielsen and Cobussen’s work “music contributes to a better understanding of one’s place within the world, and thus, to an ethical sensibility”, emphasizing how musical practice cultivates ethical awareness through its relational nature. Music is thus conceived as a moral endeavor, where care extends not only to the music itself but also to the individuals involved in its creation and performance. Moreover, this moral responsibility extends to future generations, as musical tradition is conceived as a temporal bridge linking the past, the present, and the future. The tradition is composed of individuals actively engaged in the practices that shape the tradition or traditions. Musicians bear an intergenerational responsibility toward those who will inherit and reinterpret current practices—a responsibility not grounded in direct reciprocity, but in what Randall describes as “conceptual ties”. The continuity of musical tradition and its aesthetic value depend on the care and responsibility each generation shows toward both the participants and the evolving cultural products of this process. Thus, the discussion elucidates the ethical dimensions of musical agency and practice, particularly in Western classical music, and highlights how our obligations to future generations are intrinsic to the practice itself, thereby contributing to broader debates on intergenerational care ethics. Full article