Date
1-9-2024
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)
Chair
Rachel Piferi
Keywords
empathy, moral disengagement, anti-social, spiritual, neuropsychology, attachment, psychopathic
Disciplines
Psychology
Recommended Citation
Essler, Kimberly, "Moral Disengagement and Psychopathy: A Quantitative Correlational Study on Attachment to God and Empathy" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 5170.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5170
Abstract
Moral disengagement and lack of empathy are rising concerns in the United States. Those who are morally disengaged or display limited empathy are often associated with anti-social personality disorder or psychopathy. Studies consistently show trauma and early childhood attachment are predictors for the development of behaviors associated with psychopathy. Current literature has demonstrated semi-effective therapeutic treatment and pharmacotherapy for comorbid disorders and symptoms such as anxiety. However, research fails to adequately address the prevention and treatment of lack of empathy – a major factor in the perilous behaviors of psychopathy. Psychopathy includes structural and functional brain abnormalities in the cortical (i.e. orbitofrontal cortex, insula) and subcortical (i.e. amygdala, corpus callosum) regions. Thus, leading to neurocognitive deficiencies in emotional responses, and decision-making skills. A neurological understanding of the empathetic and moral drive of these individuals is needed to better determine possible treatment modalities. If poor parental attachment predicts lack of empathy, it is possible attachment to God plays a role in prevention and treatment of these symptoms. This study used a correlational analysis to examine the relationship between attachment to God and empathy. Additionally, it used neuroscience as a theoretical foundation to link trauma, empathy, and spirituality. It was determined: cognitive and affective empathy were statistically different amongst the four attachment styles; number of trauma experiences influenced combined empathy scores; secure attachment was less likely to report any trauma, avoidant and disorganized attachment were more likely to report complex trauma; higher psychopathy scores positively related to higher empathy scores; and attachment to God had a moderating effect on the relationship between trauma and empathy.
