Xingchao Wang

Moral Disengagement as Mediator and Moderator of the Relation Between Empathy and Aggression Among Chinese Male Juvenile Delinquents.

The link between empathy and aggression is well documented; yet, studies examining potential mechanisms that explain this association are limited. In the present study, we tested the relation between empathy and aggression and examined both the mediating and moderating effects of moral disengagement on this relation among Chinese male juvenile delinquents. Three hundred and fifty-seven male juvenile delinquents from one Chinese juvenile correctional facility completed the interpersonal reactivity index, the moral disengagement scale and the aggression questionnaire. The results indicated that moral disengagement partially mediated the influence of empathy on aggression. Moreover, moral disengagement moderated the relation between empathy and aggression. Specifically, there was a significant negative relation between empathy and aggression at low levels of moral disengagement. However, at high levels of moral disengagement, the relation between empathy and aggression was non-significant. The significance and limitations of the results are discussed.

Trait anger and cyberbullying among young adults

Although trait anger has been shown to play an important role in cyberbullying, little is known about mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relation among young adults. Based on the integration of the general aggression model and the social-cognitive model of moral identity, the current study investigated (a) the mediating role of moral disengagement in the relation between trait anger and cyberbullying, and (b) the moderating role of moral identity in the direct and indirect relations between trait anger and cyberbullying. This model was examined with 464 Chinese young adults. Participants filled out questionnaires regarding trait anger, cyberbullying, moral disengagement, and moral identity. After gender and age were controlled, trait anger was significantly and positively associated with cyberbullying. Mediation analysis revealed that moral disengagement partially mediated the relation between trait anger and cyberbullying. Moderated mediation analysis further indicated that the direct and indirect relations between trait anger and cyberbullying were moderated by moral identity. The direct and indirect effects of trait anger on cyberbullying became non-significant for high moral identity individuals. These findings may help to design effective psychological interventions aimed at improving moral identity in young adults with higher levels of cyberbullying. Trait anger was significantly and positively associated with cyberbullying.Moral disengagement partially mediated the relation between trait anger and cyberbullying.Moral identity moderated the mediation effect of moral disengagement.The direct and indirect effects of trait anger on cyberbullying became non-significant for low moral identifiers.

Full length articleTrait anger and cyberbullying among young adults: A moderated mediation model of moral disengagement and moral identity

Although trait anger has been shown to play an important role in cyberbullying, little is known about mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relation among young adults. Based on the integration of the general aggression model and the social-cognitive model of moral identity, the current study investigated (a) the mediating role of moral disengagement in the relation between trait anger and cyberbullying, and (b) the moderating role of moral identity in the direct and indirect relations between trait anger and cyberbullying. This model was examined with 464 Chinese young adults. Participants filled out questionnaires regarding trait anger, cyberbullying, moral disengagement, and moral identity. After gender and age were controlled, trait anger was significantly and positively associated with cyberbullying. Mediation analysis revealed that moral disengagement partially mediated the relation between trait anger and cyberbullying. Moderated mediation analysis further indicated that the direct and indirect relations between trait anger and cyberbullying were moderated by moral identity. The direct and indirect effects of trait anger on cyberbullying became non-significant for high moral identity individuals. These findings may help to design effective psychological interventions aimed at improving moral identity in young adults with higher levels of cyberbullying. Trait anger was significantly and positively associated with cyberbullying.Moral disengagement partially mediated the relation between trait anger and cyberbullying.Moral identity moderated the mediation effect of moral disengagement.The direct and indirect effects of trait anger on cyberbullying became non-significant for low moral identifiers.