| What are the relations between ethics and mental health? Sigmund Freud argued that healthy adults were neither undersocialized (i.e., psychopathic) nor oversocialized (i.e., neurotic). O. H. Mowrer disagreed that adults could become oversocialized, arguing instead that neurotic symptoms were attributable to negative feelings over prior ethical transgressions. To test Freudian versus Mowrerian hypotheses, 3 studies were conducted with the Integrity Scale, which served as a measure of differences in socialization. High scores on the Integrity Scale represent endorsement of a principled ethic of honesty (i.e., high socialization). Low scores on the Integrity Scale represent endorsement of an expedient ethic that justifies deception (i.e., low socialization).;University students filled out the Integrity Scale and surveys of antisocial behavior and mental health. Study 1 showed that scores on the Integrity Scale were negatively correlated with symptoms of psychopathy, including pessimism, opportunism, duplicity, and a lack of empathy and concern for others. Inconsistent with Freudian theory, scores on the Integrity Scale were negatively related to feelings of guilt, depression, and other neurotic symptoms, and positively associated with ratings of life satisfaction and emotional well-being. Study 2 showed that Integrity Scale scores were negatively associated with symptoms of depression and social phobia. In Study 3, Integrity Scale scores were negatively correlated with measures of personality disorder, in particular, the antisocial personality, the histrionic personality, and the dependent personality. Reported levels of lying and cheating were positively related to psychopathic symptoms, and to a lesser extent, neurotic symptoms. Symptoms of psychosis were unrelated to ethical beliefs and antisocial actions.;In summary, the dissertation supported a Mowrerian hypothesis of ethics and mental health. The correlational designs and homogenous study samples disallowed causal arguments that will be addressed in future research. The pattern of data conformed to an 'alienated' versus 'integrated' worldview that is a recurrent theme in moral psychology. Endorsement of an expedient, "me-first" ethic was consistent with symptoms of neurosis and psychopathy. In contrast, endorsement of a principled ethic of honesty was consistent with positive feelings, autonomy, and moral maturity. |
