In/stability of moral sense of self and OCD

Abstract

Why are people with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) susceptible to deontological (vs. altruistic) guilt? The present research addresses this question by examining the association of OC tendencies with deontological rather than altruistic guilt. Specifically, we conducted two correlational studies in which we examined whether and how the perceived instability of the moral sense of self (i.e., instability of morality) is associated with OC tendencies and deontological (vs. altruistic) guilt. As predicted, the results of path analysis models showed that the susceptibility to deontological (vs. altruistic) guilt typical of individuals with OC traits is primarily associated with the perceived instability of morality relative to the perceived status of morality (Study 1) and instability of extraversion (Study 2). These results suggest that deontological guilt and its association with OC traits can be understood better when the instability of the moral sense of self and vulnerability to sudden changes in moral status are considered. We discuss how these results contribute to theory, research, and clinical practice on OCD, morality, and guilt.