{"title":"The impact of self-directed, other-directed, and dual moral transgressions on emotional, cognitive, and clinical outcomes in emerging adults.","authors":"Nora Mooren, Simone M de la Rie, Paul A Boelen","doi":"10.1037/tra0002032","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Stressful events can cause individuals to act contrary to their moral standards, resulting in moral transgressions. Two types of moral transgressions are commonly distinguished: actively committing moral transgressions or failing to prevent harm to others (self-directed transgressions) and being exposed to the moral transgressions of others (other-directed transgressions). Evidence suggests that self-directed and other-directed moral transgressions lead to different psychological outcomes. However, this evidence is inconclusive, primarily based on clinical populations, and lacks a developmental perspective, including a focus on emerging adults.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>In this study, young adults recalled a memory of a morally distressing event, encompassing self-directed, other-directed, or dual transgressions. We compared the three groups reporting these transgressions in terms of emotions (fear, shame, guilt, and anger), negative cognitions (about self-blame, the self, and the world), and clinical outcomes (posttraumatic stress [PTS] and depression). Additionally, we explored the variables fear, negative cognitions about self-blame, the self, and the world as potential mediators between exposure to self-directed, other-directed, or dual transgressions and PTS.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>It was shown that exposure to dual transgressions results in elevated emotional and cognitive burden compared to self- or other-directed transgressions alone. Mediation analyses revealed that, compared to self-directed and other-directed transgressions, participants reporting dual transgressions exhibited more negative self- and world cognitions, which were associated with increased PTS.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study concludes that it is useful-both in research and clinical care-to distinguish between self-directed, other-directed, and dual transgressions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).</p>","PeriodicalId":20982,"journal":{"name":"Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy","FirstCategoryId":"102","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0002032","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: Stressful events can cause individuals to act contrary to their moral standards, resulting in moral transgressions. Two types of moral transgressions are commonly distinguished: actively committing moral transgressions or failing to prevent harm to others (self-directed transgressions) and being exposed to the moral transgressions of others (other-directed transgressions). Evidence suggests that self-directed and other-directed moral transgressions lead to different psychological outcomes. However, this evidence is inconclusive, primarily based on clinical populations, and lacks a developmental perspective, including a focus on emerging adults.
Method: In this study, young adults recalled a memory of a morally distressing event, encompassing self-directed, other-directed, or dual transgressions. We compared the three groups reporting these transgressions in terms of emotions (fear, shame, guilt, and anger), negative cognitions (about self-blame, the self, and the world), and clinical outcomes (posttraumatic stress [PTS] and depression). Additionally, we explored the variables fear, negative cognitions about self-blame, the self, and the world as potential mediators between exposure to self-directed, other-directed, or dual transgressions and PTS.
Results: It was shown that exposure to dual transgressions results in elevated emotional and cognitive burden compared to self- or other-directed transgressions alone. Mediation analyses revealed that, compared to self-directed and other-directed transgressions, participants reporting dual transgressions exhibited more negative self- and world cognitions, which were associated with increased PTS.
Conclusion: This study concludes that it is useful-both in research and clinical care-to distinguish between self-directed, other-directed, and dual transgressions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).
期刊介绍：
Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy publishes empirical research on the psychological effects of trauma. The journal is intended to be a forum for an interdisciplinary discussion on trauma, blending science, theory, practice, and policy.
The journal publishes empirical research on a wide range of trauma-related topics, including:
-Psychological treatments and effects
-Promotion of education about effects of and treatment for trauma
-Assessment and diagnosis of trauma
-Pathophysiology of trauma reactions
-Health services (delivery of services to trauma populations)
-Epidemiological studies and risk factor studies
-Neuroimaging studies
-Trauma and cultural competence
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