title: Mastering moral misery: Emotional and coping responses to intragroup morality (vs. competence) evaluations.
abstract: In social groups, individuals are often confronted with evaluations of their behaviour by other group members and are motivated to adapt their own behaviour accordingly. In two studies we examine emotional responses towards, and perceived coping abilities with, morality vs. competence evaluations individuals receive from other in-group members. In Study 1, we show that evaluations of one's immoral behaviour primarily induce guilt, whereas evaluations of incompetent behaviour raise anger. In Study 2, we elaborate on the psychological process associated with these emotional responses, and demonstrate that evaluations of immorality, compared to incompetence, diminish group members' perceived coping abilities, which in turn intensifies feelings of guilt. However, when anticipating an opportunity to restore one's self-image as a moral group member, perceived coping abilities are increased and the experience of guilt is alleviated. Together these studies demonstrate how group members can overcome their moral misery when restoring their self-image.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Social and Organizational Psychology , Institute of Psychology, Leiden University , Leiden , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Romy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van der Lee
authors.affiliation: a Department of Social and Organizational Psychology , Institute of Psychology, Leiden University , Leiden , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Naomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ellemers
authors.affiliation: a Department of Social and Organizational Psychology , Institute of Psychology, Leiden University , Leiden , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Daan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Scheepers
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D005260:Female; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D016743:Mental Competency / Q000523:psychology*; D009014:Morals; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Competence; Coping ability; Emotions; Intragroup processes; Morality