TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE ROLE OF SELF IN A MORAL DILEMMA by Patricia McCarthy Broderick Liberty University A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Liberty University August, 2009 TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE ROLE OF SELF IN A MORAL DILEMMA A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Liberty University in partial fulfillment of the the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Patricia McCarthy Broderick © AUGUST 2009 Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia August, 2009 Dissertation Committee Approval: ____________________________________ FRED MILACCI, D.Ed. date ____________________________________ JOHN C. THOMAS, Ph.D., Ph.D. date ____________________________________ KENNETH REEVES, Ed.D. date ABSTRACT TO THINE OWN SELF BE TRUE: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE ROLE OF SELF IN A MORAL DILEMMA Patricia McCarthy Broderick Center for Counseling and Family Studies Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling Moral identity was investigated phenomenologically as it was experienced both by those who adhered to their stated moral convictions as well as those who did not. More specifically, 16 adult, unmarried, pro-life women who had experienced an unwanted pregnancy were interviewed, 8 of whom had carried and 8 had aborted. Significant findings include the propensity of those who carried and aborted, alike, to view their moral dilemmas through the filter of protection of self. Those who carried saw their moral beliefs as serving their self-interests, but those who aborted did not. Connection with a higher purpose was found in those who carried. A Moral Juncture Model of Self, as conceptualized by the researcher, is presented. ii Dedication Dedicated to my generous and loving husband and family who have endured years of distraction from my first calling; to the beautiful women of this study who courageously shared their lives with me so we might gain from their insights and wisdom; to my amazing chair, Dr. Fred Milacci, whose poignant questions and selfless gifts of his time and expertise kept me on track; and mostly to Christ, my Lord and Savior, who continually grants me opportunities to lean on Him so that I might know His sustaining faithfulness. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract........................................................................................................................................... ii Dedication...................................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures................................................................................................................................ ix List of Tables ...................................................................................................................................x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION..............................................................................................1 Background to the Problem .............................................................................................................2 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................................................4 Research Questions..........................................................................................................................4 Definitions........................................................................................................................................5 Akrasia ................................................................................................................................ 5 Morality............................................................................................................................... 5 Moral Agency ..................................................................................................................... 6 Moral Identity ..................................................................................................................... 6 Moral Integration ................................................................................................................ 7 Pro-life ................................................................................................................................ 7 Unwanted Pregnancy .......................................................................................................... 8 Locating Myself as a Researcher .....................................................................................................8 Significance of the Study...............................................................................................................10 Summary........................................................................................................................................12 iv CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE.................................................................13 Overview........................................................................................................................................13 Moral Reasoning............................................................................................................................14 Moral Emotions .............................................................................................................................20 Moral Intuition...............................................................................................................................23 Moral Motivation...........................................................................................................................25 Competing Motivations .................................................................................................... 27 Neutralizations .................................................................................................................. 29 Moral Identity ................................................................................................................................32 Early Moral Identity Research.......................................................................................... 32 Blasi’s Self Model of Moral Functioning ......................................................................... 33 Recent Moral Identity Research........................................................................................ 35 Limitations to Moral Identity Research ............................................................................ 38 Abortion as a Moral Decision........................................................................................................39 Summary........................................................................................................................................41 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS..................................................................................................43 Research Design.............................................................................................................................44 Selection of Participants ................................................................................................................48 Data Collection ..............................................................................................................................51 Data Analysis.................................................................................................................................53 Ethical Considerations ...................................................................................................................54 v Summary........................................................................................................................................55 CHAPTER FOUR: FINDINGS.....................................................................................................58 Sketches of Participants .................................................................................................................59 Women Who Aborted....................................................................................................... 61 Women Who Carried ........................................................................................................ 63 Moral Self-Identities Prior to Unwanted Pregnancies ...................................................................68 Moral Disillusion and Apathy........................................................................................... 68 Moral Clarity..................................................................................................................... 71 Self-Focus ......................................................................................................................... 73 Moral Hypocrisy ............................................................................................................... 74 Moral Self-Identity as Impacted by Unwanted Pregnancy............................................................76 Decreased Moral Agency.................................................................................................. 76 Increased Moral Responsibility ........................................................................................ 79 The Lure of Moral Hypocrisy..........................................................................................