Structural Relationships Between Anger and Moral Decision-Making: The Mediating Role of Empathy and Behavioral Inhibition

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 BSc in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

2 Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran

10.22034/jmpr.2025.68441.6752

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the structural relationships between anger and moral decision-making, with empathy and behavioral inhibition as mediating variables. This research employed a descriptive-correlational design. The target population consisted of adults residing in Tabriz during the year 2024. A total of 286 individuals were recruited through convenience sampling for participation in the study. Data were collected using the Revised Everyday Moral Decision-Making Task (Rosen et al., 2015), the Trait Anger subscale of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory–2 (STAXI-2; Spielberger, 1999), the Basic Empathy Scale (Jolliffe & Farrington, 2006), and the Behavioral Inhibition subscale of the BIS/BAS Scales (Carver & White, 1994). Data analysis was conducted using Pearson correlation coefficients and structural equation modeling. The results indicated that anger was positively associated with empathy and negatively associated with behavioral inhibition (p<0.01). Additionally, both empathy and behavioral inhibition showed positive relationships with moral decision-making (p< 0.05). No significant direct relationship was found between anger and moral decision-making (p>0.05); however, the indirect effect of anger on moral decision-making through empathy and behavioral inhibition was statistically significant (p<0.05). These findings suggest that empathy and behavioral inhibition serve as mediating mechanisms in the relationship between anger and moral decision-making. Interventions targeting these factors may be beneficial for enhancing moral reasoning and ethical behavior.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Modern Psychological Researches
Volume 20, Issue 79
October 2025
Pages 1-13

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History

  • Receive Date: 02 August 2025
  • Revise Date: 19 August 2025
  • Accept Date: 10 September 2025

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