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Abstract

The moral approbation model has recently been proposed as a partial explanation for the observed disparity between moral decisions and moral action. A critical component of this model is an untested individual-difference variable, desired moral approbation, defined as the amount of approval that individuals require from themselves or others in order to proceed with moral actions without discomfort. This study focused on the development of a scale that measures individuals’desire for moral approbation. Factor analysis of data gathered from university business students (N = 382) supported the viability of desired moral approbation, which was composed of three distinct constructs: (a) desire for moral praise from others, (b) desire to avoid moral blame from others, and (c) desire for moral approval from the self.

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The Development of a Measure of Desired Moral Approbation

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