Beyond Heroes and Villains: Examining Explanatory Mechanisms Underlying Moral Disengagement |
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| Authors: | Meghan S Sanders Mina Tsay-Vogel |
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| Institution: | 1. Manship School of Mass Communication, Louisiana State University;2. Department of Mass Communication, Advertising &3. Public Relations, Boston University |
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| Abstract: | In recent years, theorizing regarding the role and importance of media entertainment in everyday life has garnered much serious attention by media effects scholars. The role of moral judgments, sanctions, and lack thereof are areas in which theoretical development has expanded. The present study examines narrative exposure, identification, and moral judgment as indicators of the degree to which individuals may morally disengage during mediated entertainment experiences. In addition, this study attempts to further expand disposition theory and theorizing about the role of moral disengagement by moving beyond conceptualizations of good, bad, and morally ambiguous characters to explore more subtle moral distinctions between characters as they exist within the same narrative and along a continuum. Results suggest that identification and moral judgment serve as important mediators predicting moral disengagement; however, the nature of these relationships are moderated by the perception of the character’s moral fortitude. |
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