Topic
Moral character
About: Moral character is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1276 publications have been published within this topic receiving 27791 citations.
Papers published on a yearly basis
1 / 2
Papers
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that to be truly transformational, leadership must be grounded in moral foundations, and the moral character of the leaders and their concerns for self and others.
Abstract: The morality of transformational leadership has been sharply questioned, particularly by libertarians, “grass roots” theorists, and organizational development consultants. This paper argues that to be truly transformational, leadership must be grounded in moral foundations. The four components of authentic transformational leadership (idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individualized consideration) are contrasted with their counterfeits in dissembling pseudo -transformational leadership on the basis of (1) the moral character of the leaders and their concerns for self and others; (2) the ethical values embedded in the leaders' vision, articulation, and program, which followers can embrace or reject; and (3) the morality of the processes of social ethical choices and action in which the leaders and followers engage and collectively pursue. The literature on transformational leadership is linked to the long-standing literature on virtue and moral character, as exemplified by Socratic and Confucian typologies. It is related as well to the major themes of the modern Western ethical agenda: liberty, utility, and distributive justice Deception, sophistry, and pretense are examined alongside issues of transcendence, agency, trust, striving for congruence in values, cooperative action, power, persuasion, and corporate governance to establish the strategic and moral foundations of authentic transformational leadership.
2,602 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present evidence for a new model of individual differences in judgments and reactions, which holds that people's implicit theories about human attributes structure the way they understand and react to human actions and outcomes.
Abstract: In this target article, we present evidence for a new model of individual differences in judgments and reactions. The model holds that people's implicit theories about human attributes structure the way they understand and react to human actions and outcomes. We review research showing that when people believe that attributes (such as intelligence or moral character) are fixed, trait-like entities (an entity theory), they tend to understand outcomes and actions in terms of these fixed traits ("I failed the test because I am dumb" or "He stole the bread because he is dishonest"). In contrast, when people believe that attributes are more dynamic, malleable, and developable (an incremental theory), they tend to focus less on broad traits and, instead, tend to understand outcomes and actions in terms of more specific behavioral or psychological mediators ("I failed the test because of my effort or strategy" or "He stole the bread because he was desperate"). The two frameworks also appear to foster different r...
2,361 citations
1 Jan 1982
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on other people's conceptions of the person and ideas about the self, and their aim is to interpret a widespread mode of social thought often referred to as concrete, undifferentiated, context-specific, or occasion-bound thinking.
Abstract: Our concern in this essay is with other people’s conceptions of the person and ideas about the self. Our aim is to interpret a widespread mode of social thought often referred to as concrete, undifferentiated, context-specific, or occasion- bound thinking, a mode of social thought culminating in the view that specific situations determine the moral character of a particular action, that the individual person per se is neither an object of importance nor inherently worthy of respect, that the individual as moral agent ought not be distinguished from the social status s(he) occupies; a view that, indeed, the individual as an abstract ethical and normative category is not to be acknowledged.
1,134 citations
Book•
15 Aug 2002
TL;DR: In this paper, a renaissance of virtue is described, and the authors argue that there is no reason to be ashamed of moral character, moral behavior, and moral character and consistency.
Abstract: Preface: a renaissance of virtue 1. Joining the hunt 2. Character and consistency 3. Moral character, moral behavior 4. The fragmentation of character 5. Judging character 6. From psychology to ethics 7. Situation and responsibility 8. Is there anything to be ashamed of?
1,006 citations
Book•
1 May 2001TL;DR: This article brought together the results of 25 years of research on the domain theory of social cognitive development and provided concrete suggestions for creating a moral classroom climate, dealing with student discipline, and integrating moral values within the curriculum.
Abstract: This book brings together the results of 25 years of research on the domain theory of social cognitive development. On the basis of that research - which shows that morality is a domain distinct from other social values - the author provides concrete suggestions for creating a moral classroom climate, dealing with student discipline, and integrating moral values within the curriculum. Among questions addressed are: Is morality a set of rules we acquire like any other? Are there universal aspects to morality, or is it culture specific? Is there such a thing as moral character? How best can teachers make use of our knowledge about children's moral and social growth in their everyday classroom practices? Integrated answers to these questions result in a comprehensive approach that does not reduce moral education to a process of induction or inculcation, but rather harnesses children's intrinsic motivation to comprehend and master their social worlds.
870 citations
Related Topics (5)
Performance Metrics
| Year | Papers |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 48 |
| 2024 | 53 |
| 2023 | 103 |
| 2022 | 131 |
| 2021 | 46 |
| 2020 | 62 |