Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 18, 2026

09:00
Investigating Pain-Related Avoidance Behavior using a Robotic Arm-Reaching Paradigm
Published on: October 3, 2020
4.5K
Negative outcomes after morally injurious experiences: A replication and extension
Psychological Trauma : Theory, Research, Practice and Policy
|November 21, 2017
Summary
Moral emotions mediate the link between morally injurious experiences and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Transgressive acts also directly impact PTSD, influencing depression and other psychological outcomes in veterans.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Military Mental Health
- Trauma Studies
Background:
- Replication and extension of a model linking morally injurious experiences, moral emotions, and PTSD.
- Incorporation of broader moral emotion measures and depression symptom assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate and expand a model of moral injury, moral emotions, and psychological distress in veterans.
- To investigate the direct and indirect effects of morally injurious experiences on PTSD and depression.
Main Methods:
- Online survey administered to 161 military veterans via crowdsourcing.
- Measurement of transgressive acts, appraisals (self-transgression, leadership betrayal), PTSD, and depression symptoms.
- Structural equation modeling to test the hypothesized relationships.
Main Results:
- Replication of the mediating role of moral emotions in the relationship between moral injury and PTSD.
- Identification of a direct effect of transgressive acts on PTSD symptoms.
- The model explained significant variance in both PTSD and depression, supporting specific pathways.
Conclusions:
- Moral emotions are confirmed as mediators between morally injurious experiences and PTSD symptoms.
- Transgressive acts, beyond appraisals, are crucial factors in understanding psychological outcomes.
- The established model shows potential for predicting outcomes beyond PTSD, including depression.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The Stanford Prison Experiment
24.8K
The famous and controversial Stanford Prison Experiment, conducted by social psychologist Philip Zimbardo and his colleagues at Stanford University, demonstrated the power of social roles, social norms, and scripts.
24.8K
Milgram's Obedience to Authority
7.4K
Obedience to authority is classically demonstrated in a more famous series of social psychology experiments performed by Stanley Milgram. He was a social psychology professor at Yale who was influenced by the trial of Adolf Eichmann, a Nazi war criminal. Eichmann’s defense for the atrocities he committed was that he was “just following orders.”
7.4K
Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
282
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group...
282
Fundamental Attribution Error
13.8K
According to some social psychologists, people tend to overemphasize internal factors as explanations—or attributions—for the behavior of other people. They tend to assume that the behavior of another person is a trait of that person, and to underestimate the power of the situation on the behavior of others. They tend to fail to recognize when the behavior of another is due to situational variables, and thus to the person’s state. This erroneous assumption is...
13.8K
Ethics in Research
25.8K
Today, scientists agree that good research is ethical in nature and is guided by a basic respect for human dignity and safety. However, this has not always been the case. Modern researchers must demonstrate that the research they perform is ethically sound.
25.8K
Social Facilitation
36.6K
Not all intergroup interactions lead to negative outcomes. Sometimes, being in a group situation can improve performance. Social facilitation occurs when an individual performs better when an audience is watching than when the individual performs the behavior alone. This typically occurs when people are performing a task for which they are skilled.
36.6K

